The station was opened in 1882 with the name Clacton.[2] It is currently managed by Greater Anglia, which also operates all trains serving the station.
Services were steam-operated until the line was electrified, with Clacton first seeing electric trains on 16 March 1959. Initially, the line was only electrified as far as Colchester, as part of British Railways' experiments with 25 kV AC electrification, rather than the previously preferred 1500 V DC system. Through electrified services to Liverpool Street were introduced on 7 January 1963.[4]
Clacton station has a sizeable concourse sheltered by a glazed roof. Platforms 1 and 3 have an operational length for ten-coach trains and platforms 2 and 4 have an operational length for twelve-coach trains.[5] There is a traction depot just outside the station, with some stabling sidings alongside the station itself.
Its name was changed to Clacton-on-Sea in May 2007.[6]
Services
Class 321 trains terminating at Clacton-on-Sea in July 2013
During peak hours the service level is increased to approximately four trains per hour. The first and last trains of the day start and terminate at Colchester.
^Allen, Cecil J (1975). The Great Eastern Railway (Third ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 237. ISBN07110-0659-8.
^Body, Geoffrey (1986). PSL Field Guide, Railways of the Eastern Region; Vol 1: Southern Operating Area. Wellingborough: Patrick Stevens Ltd. p. 45. ISBN0-85059-712-9.
^A Regional History of the railways of Great Britain; Vol 5; Eastern Counties; D I Gordon; Newton Abbot; 1968 p66