Station code HRO Fare zone 6 Address Romford, United Kingdom | Managed by TfL Rail DfT category C2 2011–12 2.580 million Number of platforms 4 | |
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Similar Gidea Park railway station, Goodmayes railway station, Shenfield railway station, Forest Gate railway station, Chadwell Heath railway st | ||
Harold Wood railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line in east London, serving the town of Harold Wood in the London Borough of Havering. It is 14 miles 76 chains (24.1 km) down-line from London Liverpool Street and is situated between Gidea Park and Brentwood. Its three-letter station code is HRO and it is in Travelcard zone 6.
Contents
The station is currently managed by TfL Rail. The vast majority of services call at Harold Wood as part of the Shenfield-Liverpool Street stopping "metro" service but Abellio Greater Anglia services for Southend Victoria call on Sundays. From 2019, Harold Wood will be fully served by Crossrail, linking it directly to additional stations in central London as well as Reading and London Heathrow Airport. TfL Rail, the precursor of Crossrail, took over the running of the Shenfield "metro" in May 2015.
History
Harold Wood station was opened on 1 December 1868 by the Great Eastern Railway on their main line from Bishopsgate in London to the East of England. Two additional tracks (normally used today by express services which do not call at Harold Wood) were built in 1934 under London and North Eastern Railway ownership.
Services
The typical Monday-Saturday off-peak service from the station is six trains per hour to Shenfield and six to London Liverpool Street. On Sundays this reduces to two in each direction, while two Southend Victoria services additionally call.
Future development
In 2017 new Class 345 trains will enter operation as the Crossrail service partially opens. The route will be extended through central London to Heathrow Airport and Reading in 2019. The platforms at Harold Wood will be extended from their current length of 169 metres (185 yd) to accommodate the Crossrail trains, which will be over 200 metres (220 yd) long.
Three new lifts providing access to all platforms, improved lighting and signage, help points, new ticket machines and gates will also be installed, and the footbridge and stairwells will be refurbished.
Connections
London Buses routes 256, 294, 347 and 496 serve the station.