Hatch End railway station

History

The original station opened as Pinner on the London and Birmingham Railway, either in 1842 or c. 1844. It was renamed Pinner and Hatch End on 1 January 1897. The present station was built in 1911 to a design by architect Gerald Horsley, son of the painter John Calcott Horsley. The station was served by the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway (Bakerloo) from 16 April 1917, when Bakerloo services were extended from Willesden Junction to Watford Junction. The station was again renamed Hatch End (for Pinner) on 1 February 1920, and finally Hatch End on 11 June 1956. Bakerloo line services were withdrawn on 24 September 1982.

Unusually, the station is only leased rather than owned by Network Rail.

It has two platforms. The northbound (down) platform is on the side of the ticket office and cafe. The southbound (up) platform is reached via a footbridge. This platform was originally an island platform with the other face on the adjacent down fast main line. There was another island platform serving the up fast and down semi-fast lines and a further platform for the up semi-fasts. These other platforms were closed in 1963. A general rebuilding of the access to the two remaining platforms in use was built in the 1980s and a fence built along to shield waiting passengers from the fast trains. Ticket barriers were installed in early 2010.

Services

Hatch End station is on the West Coast Main Line but served only by 'all stations' trains on the Watford DC Line, with three trains per hour operated by London Overground to London Euston (southbound) and Watford Junction (northbound). This is the standard service, seven days a week, except for early morning and late at night. The typical journey time to Euston is 38 minutes and to Watford Junction 11 minutes.

Connections are available at Harrow & Wealdstone for a London Midland fast service to London Euston or the Southern service to East Croydon, or the Bakerloo line calling all stations to Elephant & Castle. Figures show that many change at Harrow and Wealdstone for the Southern train to alight at West Brompton or Kensington (Olympia) for the District line for central London. Also, those who have changed onto the Southern Train have the option for other Southern services and South West Trains at Clapham Junction.

The station was previously served by the Bakerloo line of the London Underground.

In 2007, the station added to its facilities a cafe selling various beverages, snacks and newspapers; this on the northbound platform. The ticket office has improved opening hours and is more or less open when every train comes through. If not, there are several customer service assistants around if need be. There are also two ticket machines in the foyer where one can buy any national rail tickets, as well as travel cards, and oyster tickets. Under the new management of London Overground there has been significant improvement such as new signs, more CCTV and electronic departure boards in the foyer, both platforms and the southbound shelter.

In early 2010, Hatch End Station has had ticket barriers installed, in common with many other London Overground Stations. There are two barriers, and another barrier for luggage and wheelchair users. There are still two ticket machines, and the ticket office which is now open much more regularly.

In addition, as of 2008 "K2 Cars" taxi service converted a previous dilapidated little hut next to the station into their office. They have several cars which can take one anywhere in the local vicinity.

Architectural critic and Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman was an admirer of Hatch End railway station and described it as "half-way between a bank and a medium sized country house" - Metroland.

Connections

London Buses routes H12, H14 serve the station.