The station is on the elevated section of the main line, where it crosses both Norbiton Common and the Hogsmill River, a tributary of the River Thames.
Construction
It was opened on 16 October 1933 to serve large housing developments, which gave the station its name. 90% of the cost of the station was financed by the local developers to enhance the attractiveness of the new estate to commuters.[citation needed]
A modern ground level station (1969) is connected by stairs to the platforms, which are on the outer tracks of the four-track main line. Berrylands is one of the few stations around the London area still constructed with wooden platforms.[2]
From the start of services at the station until June 1967, there was one fast rush hour service to Waterloo at 8:07 a.m. This train was the 7:30 a.m from Guildford via Cobham. It called at Surbiton at 8:04 then New Malden at 8:10. At Raynes Park it switched to the fast line and called at Wimbledon at 8:14, then nonstop to Waterloo arriving at 8:25 at platform 13. The headcode was 42 and it was composed of 4SUB or EPB stock.
Typically, it crawled through Raynes Park waiting for a signal to clear following an overtaking steam train on the fast line. Very occasionally it was forced to stop at Raynes Park, which with the slam door train stock required it to stop there formally and take on passengers who were only too happy to take advantage of a rare fast service destined for the main line.