The most connected part of Essex with a whopping 10 train stations

Southend Central train station is one of the things that makes travelling in and out of Southend so easy
Southend Central train station is one of the things that makes travelling in and out of Southend so easy -Credit:N Chadwick


Navigating around Essex using public transport can be a bit of a challenge. The Beeching cuts of the 1960s saw many of our towns and villages lose their railway stations, making it feel like we're less connected now than in the past.

Getting to London by train is usually straightforward (unless there's work on the lines), but that often involves travelling to a station - which for many in Essex means a trip to a neighbouring town. And if you're trying to travel from one part of Essex to another that isn't on the London commuter line, things get even trickier.

However, there's one area of Essex that stands out for its connectivity - Southend-on-Sea. With 10 stations within a roughly 20-mile radius, it's a veritable hub compared to other parts of the county. There are train stations dotted across the city and its suburbs, making even short journeys worthwhile by train.

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In the heart of Southend, there are two main stations - Central and Victoria. If you're not familiar with Southend, you might think this makes sense, providing easy access to a train station for people across the city. You'd probably assume that the two stations must be quite far apart.

However, you'd be mistaken. In a rush to meet a friend who had accidentally arrived at the wrong station, I found that I could briskly walk between the two stations in just five minutes, thanks to Southend's high street connecting them.

The reason for Southend having two stations is due to two competing railway companies establishing links between London and Southend in the 19th century. This historical rivalry now leaves us with the modern-day confusion of ensuring we're on the correct train for our ticket.

Southend Central was inaugurated in 1856 by the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway and initially served as the terminus for trains arriving at the seaside resort. It's currently operated by c2c, which, as the company's name implies, runs from coast to coast into London and along the Essex coastline.

Prittlewell station
Prittlewell station

Southend Victoria station was introduced 30 years later in 1889, as an extension of the Great Eastern Mainline - now known as Greater Anglia. Interestingly, it only adopted its 'Victoria' moniker in 1949 - prior to this, it was referred to as Southend for Westcliff and Thorpe Bay.

Trains departing from Southend Victoria head towards Shenfield, where passengers can switch trains to reach Chelmsford, the main city in Essex. Despite the abundance of stations in Southend, it still perplexes me that there are no direct trains linking the seaside resort and Chelmsford.

When you're faced with the decision of whether to take a direct bus or endure a 20-minute wait on a chilly, dark train platform for a connection, it's clear something isn't quite right. Yet, trains heading to Shenfield continue onwards to London Liverpool Street, making stops at Prittlewell and Southend Airport - both located within the Southend area.

Prittlewell station may seem unnecessary in today's context, but it's worth noting that it was once considered the original Southend before the seaside end of the town, now city, took precedence. So, in its time, it held significant importance.

Southend Airport Station, on the other hand, has an evident purpose, and I won't dispute its existence. The convenience of rolling your suitcase off the train and onto a plane within minutes is undeniable, and anything that brings me closer to a sun lounger and a pina colada gets my approval.

On the c2c line, there are several stations so close together that I could probably jog between them faster than the train journey itself. The distance from Southend Central to Westcliff station is just over a mile, as is the stretch from Westcliff to Chalkwell, and then another mile to Leigh-on-Sea station.

While it's undoubtedly beneficial for Southend residents to have such a wealth of train stations at their disposal, it does raise questions about the distribution of these facilities across Essex. There are several areas in our county that don't even boast a single station, let alone 10.

Take Maldon, for instance, which once had two stations but now has none. Or consider the plight of Waltham Abbey residents who must cross the border into Hertfordshire to catch a train if they need to commute.

Moreover, there are three stations situated east of Southend. Southend East - aptly named - is a mere two-minute train ride from Southend Central station, given they're only 1.4 miles apart. The line then extends to Thorpe Bay and finally terminates at Shoeburyness.

There's another station I was tempted to include in Southend's tally, but felt it might be stretching the truth a bit too far. Southend Pier boasts its own railway, offering passengers a picturesque journey along 1.25 miles of track to the end of the world's longest pleasure pier.

In my view, this should technically bump up Southend's count to 12 stations within its vicinity, albeit some more practical than others. With such an abundance of stations, it almost seems logical to claim one of them is 1.3 miles out at sea.