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Location notes
A bustling London suburban town on the Great Eastern Main Line out of London Liverpool Street, 15 miles from the terminus.
Railway type and traffic
Romford sees an off peak stopping service frequency of every 10 minutes on the slow lines, and two fast trains an hour. At peak times, the metro services run at approximately 5 minute intervals, but no fast trains stop at the station then. Metro services are operated by Class 315s and the occasional 321. The same traction can be found working the Upminster branch line from platform 1 (more commonly a 321 nowadays).
Also passing the station are yet more Class 321s, then Class 360s and Class 90 + DVT hauled Greater Anglia services from London to Norwich.
In terms of freight, a variety of locomotives can be seen, in particular Freightliner 66s, 86s and 90s working to/from Ipswich and Felixstowe. DB Schenker do not operate an awful lot through the station, but it is common to see 66s (sometimes class 60s) on the Marks Tey workings as well as one daily intermodal service. DRS activities are sparse but not unfounded, with 37s or 20s likely to be seen on the Sizewell/Southminster flask trains and movements to DRS bases at Norwich and Stowmarket are also common. Cotswold Rail movements through the station regularly occur with loco positioning moves to Norwich and thunderbird duties on the GEML being taken up by CR 47s.
Also passing the station are yet more Class 321s, then Class 360s and Class 90 + DVT hauled Greater Anglia services from London to Norwich.
In terms of freight, a variety of locomotives can be seen, in particular Freightliner 66s, 86s and 90s working to/from Ipswich and Felixstowe. DB Schenker do not operate an awful lot through the station, but it is common to see 66s (sometimes class 60s) on the Marks Tey workings as well as one daily intermodal service. DRS activities are sparse but not unfounded, with 37s or 20s likely to be seen on the Sizewell/Southminster flask trains and movements to DRS bases at Norwich and Stowmarket are also common. Cotswold Rail movements through the station regularly occur with loco positioning moves to Norwich and thunderbird duties on the GEML being taken up by CR 47s.
Environment
Romford is a busy station in a densely built up area and one not to be alone at late at night due to the vast amount of nightlife in the town. During the day, if you want quiet, I would recommend Gidea Park one stop up or Chadwell Heath the other way, but if you want a place easy to access from London and with a reasonably good photograph with minimum bowling risk, then I would recommend it.
Road directions
From the West/East/North: Leave the A12 at the 'North Street' traffic lights (A125/B175 junction), and turn right (if from west), left (if from east) into North Street (A125, signposted Romford/Hornchurch). Follow this road until you reach the roundabout with the ring road, then take the third exit (towards Chadwell Heath, A118). When you reach the next roundabout take the 2nd exit into the Brewery car park. This is the best place to park.
However, coming by car is not a great option as parking is awful in the area aside in the shopping centre car parks which are expensive. I would advise to come by public transport, as Romford boasts an excellent Train and Bus service, with many routes serving the station.
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Romford Station map co-ordinates
However, coming by car is not a great option as parking is awful in the area aside in the shopping centre car parks which are expensive. I would advise to come by public transport, as Romford boasts an excellent Train and Bus service, with many routes serving the station.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Romford Station map co-ordinates
Parking
The car parks are well established and secure and you can have a valet whilst you spot if you so desire, but they are a fair step from the station, so public transport is by far the easiest method to reach Romford.
Public transport
From Liverpool Street take a Shenfield/Gidea Park (metro) service, journey time 25 mins. Off peak, Clacton services and one of the Southend Victoria services stops at Romford, with a journey time of 15 mins.
By bus, there are endless possibilities, you can come from any of:-
Upminster, Hornchurch, Elm Park, Emerson Park, Harold Wood, Harold Hill, Gidea Park, Chadwell Heath, Stratford, Collier Row, Barkingside, Hainault, Grays, Lakeside, Brentwood, Ilford, Leytonstone and many more
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
By bus, there are endless possibilities, you can come from any of:-
Upminster, Hornchurch, Elm Park, Emerson Park, Harold Wood, Harold Hill, Gidea Park, Chadwell Heath, Stratford, Collier Row, Barkingside, Hainault, Grays, Lakeside, Brentwood, Ilford, Leytonstone and many more
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Eateries are scattered all over Romford, with all your old favourites covered, and during the daytime, WHSmith and Puccinos on the station are open. There are also toilets on the station.
Accommodation
There is a new Travelodge in Romford, as well as Premier Inn.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Romford Station
Streetmap links
Romford Station general view map
Romford Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Romford Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Romford Station
Googly map
Romford Station general view map
Romford Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Romford Station
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Videoing its not ideal due to passenger noise, bus noise and announcer noise. The sun rises in the east (Gidea Park) and sets in the west (Chadwell Heath). There are good photographs to be had whichever direction or line you shoot. A personal favourite for taking trains coming out of London is the London end of platforms 3 and 4, as you are covered whether what you are waiting for comes on the fast or the slow.
General views - All photographs © Craig Leaper unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south
On the fast lines
Fig 2 - Looking south
On the slow lines.
Fig 3 - Looking north
On the fast lines.
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
