Laindon Station – Rebuilding, Electrification & Today

Laindon Station:1234

Part 3 follows the station through major twentieth-century rebuilding, the end of steam, electrification and the creation of the modern station.

The Major 1933 Rebuild

The first major transformation of Laindon Station came in 1933. The London-bound platform was converted into an island platform and a third line was added. This created additional capacity and allowed trains to pass or terminate more flexibly.

New Platform Buildings

The rebuilt island included new waiting accommodation, toilets and longer canopies. The footbridge was altered and extended to connect the enlarged layout with the High Road side of the station. The platforms were also lengthened.

The Reversing Platform

Further changes in the late 1950s altered the use of the tracks. The middle platform became particularly useful for trains terminating at Laindon and reversing direction, a feature that helped the station handle intensive commuter services.

Electrification

The London, Tilbury and Southend route was modernised and electrified in the early 1960s. Electric services began appearing in 1961, and a full electric timetable followed in June 1962. The change dramatically reduced typical journey times between Laindon and Fenchurch Street compared with the steam era.

The End of Steam

The final regular steam period ended in June 1962 as electric trains took over the passenger service. For commuters this marked one of the biggest changes since the station had opened more than seventy years earlier.

Closure of the Goods Yard

Regular goods traffic at Laindon ended in the 1960s, with the goods service withdrawn in 1967. The sidings were removed, although the old goods shed remained derelict for years before the site was eventually absorbed into car parking and later development.

The Signal Box

The island-platform signal box remained an important feature until the 1990s. It was taken out of use in 1995 when signalling control was transferred to the modern control centre at Upminster. The box was subsequently demolished.

Late Twentieth-Century Refurbishment

Further refurbishment took place around the end of the 1990s. Parts of the long island canopy were removed or rebuilt and the platform accommodation was modernised, producing much of the appearance familiar to more recent passengers.

Laindon Station Today

Laindon is now operated by c2c. It has three platform faces, including the island and reversing platform arrangement inherited from earlier rebuilding. c2c says the station handles close to two million passenger journeys a year.

Current Facilities

As of September 2026, c2c lists step-free access from street level to all platforms, ticket-office and ticket-machine facilities, toilets, baby changing, seating, refreshment facilities, shops, Wi-Fi, an ATM, cycle storage, a taxi rank and car parking. The station's waiting room is currently listed as closed until further notice.

Station Approach

The road and access arrangements around the station have also changed. Station Approach no longer functions exactly as it did in the old High Road era, and modern vehicular access and parking occupy areas once used for railway goods activity.

Modern but historic: Today's station still uses the basic three-platform arrangement created through twentieth-century rebuilding, even though many original buildings and railway features have disappeared.
Laindon Station:1234