Proposals for the station have apparently existed since the 1930s.[3] Planning permission was granted by the London Borough of Merton in August 2007.[7] Construction started in October 2007. Following consultation, there were hopes to have the station open by December 2007.[citation needed]
The opening was originally scheduled for 19 May 2008 but that date was subsequently put back because Network Rail did not feel the station would be ready until early June.[8] The opening was then planned for the morning of Monday 2 June 2008, but in the event it was delayed until the afternoon by safety inspections. It finally opened at 16:00 and the first train called at 16:11.[citation needed]
Design
The station cost £6 million, and was the second station to be built to a modular design developed by Network Rail, which is also used at Corby railway station and Greenhithe railway station which was the first to be constructed.[9] The platforms are 170 m (560 ft) long, with a building on the up (northbound) platform. Each platform is situated downstream of the level crossing, allowing the crossing to be reopened while trains are stopped at the station, minimising the disruption to road traffic. However this means that passengers must cross Eastfields Road (no controlled crossing at present[as of?]) if they wish to purchase a ticket on the northbound side and then travel southbound. The footbridge on the southbound side only allows safe movement over the railway and not the road.[citation needed]