The station and branch line were opened in 1991 by British Rail to coincide with the completion of the airport's new terminal building.[1] With over 9 million passengers from 2023-2024, it is the busiest station in Essex, the second busiest in the East of England, and the sixteenth busiest in the country outside of London.[2]
Construction began in 1988, and the branch was completed in 1991 at a cost of £44 million.[1] The station opened on 19 March 1991, alongside the new terminal building.[6] It became fully operational following its inauguration by Queen Elizabeth II, who travelled on the first Stansted Express service from London Liverpool Street.[7]
Layout
Platform western end in 2016
Stansted Airport railway station is situated in a concrete box structure at ground level, directly beneath the terminal building, with the western end of the platforms which left open.[8] It was designed with three platforms, located at ground level beneath the terminal. Platforms 1 and 3 run the full length of the station and are used for Stansted Express and Norwich services. The shorter platform number 2 is used for the CrossCountry-operated services to Birmingham New Street. In 2011 platform 1 was extended to accommodate two trains simultaneously in combinations of up to 16 coaches, and platform 2 was extended to accommodate four-coach trains.[9]
Currently ticket checks are completely manual for both arriving and departing passengers. This can lead to long queues and crowding, especially soon after an arrival of a terminating service. With the planned introduction of the contactless travel payment option pending, gated ticket barriers are expected to be installed.
Future Plans
Platform eastern end with provision for future through-tracks
The station was designed with passive provision to become through-station, to allow for a possible future extension of the railway line towards Braintree.[10] Proposals for this extension have periodically resurfaced, including a 2020 review by Essex County Council exploring the feasibility of reintroducing the Bishop's Stortford–Braintree branch line in Essex.[11]
^ abBlow, Christopher (2005). "6: Taxonomy of rail, bus/coach and air transport interchanges". Transport Terminals and Modal Interchanges (1 ed.). Oxford: Architectural Press. p. 70. ISBN0-7506-5693-X.
