Built in 1865, the station is named after the surrounding area, which in turn is named after the Priory of St Denys, a major landmark in medieval Southampton.
The station is at the site of the junction between the South West Main Line and the West Coastway Line running between Southampton and Portsmouth. It is currently served mainly by South Western Railway, with additional services operated by Southern. There are four platforms; two on the main line and two on the branch line.
History
St Denys station building (now in private ownership)
The original station was opened by the London and South Western Railway on 1 May 1861 and named Portswood after the small village to the west of the main line. Shortly after, to accommodate the Portsmouth branch line, a new station building was built 0.25 miles (0.40 km) to the south; the relocated station was opened on 5 March 1866. However to avoid confusion with Portsmouth, the station was renamed to St Denys on 1 January 1876.[1]
The station buildings themselves are fine examples of the Victorian Italianate classical style architecture introduced to the LSWR by William Tite. The original 1867 station building on platform 1 is Grade II listed, now privately owned and renamed Drummond House.[2] Platforms 2 and 3 house the waiting room and ticket window, whilst the old station buildings on platform 4 house The Solent Model Railway Group,[3] a local organisation.
In August 1939, a train overran signals and was derailed by trap points. The accident caused a set of points to move, diverting an approaching boat train. This averted a more serious accident, as wreckage was foul of the route the boat train should have taken.[5]
On 14 August 1940, a passenger train, hauled by SR Lord Nelson class4-6-0 No. 860 Lord Hawke, was derailed due to enemy action. A bomb fell on the line ahead of the train, which was unable to stop in time.[5]
On 29 October 1959, a passenger train, hauled by SR West Country Class4-6-2 No. 34020 Seaton, overran signals and was derailed by trap points.[5][6]
On 12 December 1960, a passenger train, hauled by SR West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34022 Exmoor, overran signals and was derailed. Two people were injured.[5]
On 28 February 2022 a scooter was thrown onto the tracks at the station, causing a short circuit with the third rail electrical supply.[7] Eyewitnesses reported that the subsequent electrical arcing caused flames so bright that it "looked like daytime".[8]
References
^Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Sparkford, Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. pp. 190, 203. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
^ a b c dBishop, Bill (1984). Off the Rails. Southampton: Kingfisher. pp. 21, 53–55. ISBN 0-946184-06-2.
^Trevena, Arthur (1981). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 2. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 42. ISBN 0-906899 03 6.
^"Bitterne Park's local website - bitternepark.info - Scooter thrown onto line disrupts St Denys trains". 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
^"VIDEOS: Sparks fly after youths throw scooter on the tracks at city station". Daily Echo. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
External links
Train times and station information for St Denys railway station from National Rail
