Blackheath railway station

This article is about the station in London, England. For the station in Blackheath, New South Wales, see Blackheath railway station, New South Wales.

Blackheath
Blackheath Location of Blackheath in Greater London
Location	Blackheath
Local authority	London Borough of Lewisham
Managed by	Southeastern
Station code	BKH
DfT category	C2
Number of platforms	2
Accessible	Yes
Fare zone	3
National Rail annual entry and exit
2018–19	3.274 million [1]
– interchange	27,300 [1]
2019–20	3.216 million [1]
– interchange	15,312 [1]
2020–21	0.767 million [1]
– interchange	6,163 [1]
2021–22	1.833 million [1]
– interchange	12,920 [1]
2022–23	2.070 million [1]
– interchange	4,047 [1]
Key dates
30 July 1849	Opened
Listed status
Listed feature	Blackheath Railway Station
Listing grade	II
Entry number	1358479 [2]
Added to list	12 March 1973
Other information
External links	Departures Layout Facilities Buses
WGS84	51°27′57″N0°00′32″E / 51.4658°N 0.0089°E / 51.4658; 0.0089
London transportportal

Blackheath railway station is Grade II-listed and is in the south-centre of Blackheath, a village in southeast London. In traditional terms the area immediately south-west of the station around Lee Terrace and Lee Park is part of Lee; ^[3] a status challenged by the station's naming, buildings such as the Blackheath Halls and the development of Blackheath Park to the south east. It is 8  miles 52  chains (13.9 km) measured from London Victoria.

The tracks run through the village and are crossed by a road overbridge on which the station buildings stand.

Station

View eastward, towards Dartford in 1962

Much of the original station, dating back at track level to 1849 and at ticket office level to 1879, still remains today. It was built using London bricks to a design by George Smith (who also built Greenwich station). At the "country" end of the platforms the lines branch off to the North Kent and Bexleyheath lines. The former passes through the one mile long (1.6 km) Blackheath Tunnel immediately after the junction; the latter through the shorter Kidbrooke Tunnel after a short cutting.

Blackheath's station has two platforms which are partially covered with a weather canopy. Glass and metal waiting shelters were erected on the London ends of both platforms in April 2018. The upside platform has a disused platform face (bay platform) facing towards London, which was used in the past by commuter trains terminating here. Unusually, the track in the bay platform still remains in situ, although it is now heavily overgrown and otherwise obstructed. The area to the north, now a car park, was originally an area of railway sidings, where the commuter trains were stabled when out of service.

The bay platform used to come into its own when a circus was taking place on Blackheath. Many of the animals would arrive in railway box vans. The circus would then proceed through Blackheath Village on to the heath.

The station cannot be relied upon as a way of reaching Blackheath during the traditional free fireworks display in November, as it is normally closed early on that day for safety reasons. Conversely, in April, on the Sunday of the London Marathon, it is crucial in enabling athletes and their supporters to reach the starting line, as on that day bus services across the heath are usually suspended as the roads are closed.

Blackheath Halls, run by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and The Conservatoire are approximately 100m south of the station.

Collision in Blackheath Tunnel

On 16 December 1864, six wagons from a ballast train travelling from Charlton became detached from the rear of the train and were run into by an express passenger train from Maidstone, wrecking the train. Five platelayers in the wagons were killed in the collision and many passengers were injured. A sixth platelayer and the passenger train's fireman died from their injuries later. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Services

A Southeastern train at the station

All services at Blackheath are operated by Southeastern using Class 376, 465, 466 and 707 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is: ^[7]

• 2 tph to London Victoria
• 1 tph to London Charing Cross
• 4 tph to London Cannon Street
• 2 tph to Slade Green via Bexleyheath, continuing to London Cannon Street via Woolwich Arsenal and Greenwich
• 3 tph to Dartford via Bexleyheath
• 2 tph to Gravesend via Woolwich Arsenal

During the peak hours, the service between London Charing Cross and Dartford via Bexleyheath is increased to 2 tph.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Lewisham		Southeastern North Kent Line		Charlton
		Southeastern Bexleyheath Line		Kidbrooke

Facilities

Car park at the station

There is an adjacent car park to the north of the station (with 205 spaces) and another nearby off Blackheath Grove. Both are managed by the local authority. Charges apply 365 days a year at all times.

Connections

London Buses routes 54, 89, 108, 202 and night route N89 serve the station.

References

1. "Estimates of station usage". Rail statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Please note: Some methodology may vary year on year.
2. Historic England. "Blackheath Railway Station (1358479)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 8 June 2015.
3. https://www.achurchnearyou.com/search/?lat=51.463&lon=-0 St Margaret's, Lee, map of parish, Church of England, retrieved 2019-08-11.
4. "Accident on the North Kent Railway". The Times . No. 25058. 17 December 1864. p. 9. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
5. "The Frightful Accident in Black Heath Railway Tunnel". The Times . No. 25059. 19 December 1864. p. 5. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
6. "The Accident in Blackheath Tunnel". The Times . No. 25064. 24 December 1864. p. 9. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
7. Table 200 National Rail timetable, May 2023

External links

• Train times and station information for Blackheath railway station from National Rail