Shimbleshanks
Member
I visited Canvey island last night. Cycling back to Benfleet station, I noticed a Station Road. And yet my Jowett's Atlas doesn't show any railways at all on Canvey, nor does my modern rail atlas. What's the explanation?
I visited Canvey island last night. Cycling back to Benfleet station, I noticed a Station Road. And yet my Jowett's Atlas doesn't show any railways at all on Canvey, nor does my modern rail atlas. What's the explanation?
I was in a meeting a couple of years ago with the (former) MP for Canvey Island, also attended by various county and district council reps.
He suggested, in all seriousness, that we should close the railway from Southend to Shoeburyness, sell the land for housing, then use the cash to build a railway into Canvey Island. The Essex CC cabinet member for transport choked on his tea.
I don't think the cost is justified to be honest. Canvey surely must have a good network of buses to/from Benfleet station (which is actually the parkway for the island). For what will essentially be self contained, dedicated option I wouldn't have thought the demand is there?
Does it have to be a railway station? Bus station Police station come to mind easily - sure there may be others if I tried.
I have never known why Canvey had a Station Road, although I know of it (I may have even been down there before now). I can't imagine for one moment it would be related to its tram "network" though; perhaps it was related to some kind of water-based station?