Leigh-on-Sea
General information
Location	Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea England
Grid reference	TQ831857
Managed by	c2c
Platforms	3
Other information
Station code	LES
Classification	DfT category C2
Key dates
1 July 1855 (1855-07-01)	Opened as Leigh
1 October 1904	Renamed Leigh-on-Sea
1 January 1934	Re-sited
Passengers
2018/19	2.356 million
2019/20	2.315 million
2020/21	0.480 million
2021/22	1.248 million
2022/23	1.563 million
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Leigh-on-Sea railway station is on the London, Tilbury and Southend line, serving the town of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. It is 32 miles 43 chains (52.4 km) down the main line from London Fenchurch Street via Basildon and it is situated between Benfleet to the west and Chalkwell to the east. Its three-letter station code is LES.

It was originally opened as Leigh by the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway on 1 July 1855, being renamed Leigh-on-Sea on 1 October 1904, but was rebuilt by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway on a new site, 880 yards (805 m) to the west, opening on 1 January 1934.^[1] The station and all trains serving it are currently operated by c2c.

History

The original station was built in Leigh Old Town and opened in 1855, but a larger three-platform station some distance to the west was opened on 1 January 1934 to replace the first structure.^[2] The original building was then used by a local Sea Scout troop until the northern platform buildings were demolished to allow the widening of the adjacent road. The other platform and station building still exist and are currently used by Leigh Sailing Club.^[3]

When the London Underground's District line operated a seasonal non-stop excursion service between 1910 and 1939 through to the Southend area, Leigh-on-Sea was the first stop after Upminster.^[4]

There were formerly sidings on the 'up' London-bound side to the south-west of the station.^[5] There was a fatal accident at these sidings on 15 December 1935.^[6] The sidings had been partly decommissioned by 1969.^[5]

Services

The typical off-peak service frequency is:

• 4 tph (trains per hour) westbound towards London Fenchurch Street, of which:
  • 2 tph call at all stations via Basildon
  • 2 tph call at all stations via the Ockendon branch

• 4 tph eastbound towards Shoeburyness, of which:
  • 2 tph terminate at Southend Central
  • 2 tph continue to Shoeburyness

During peak hours there are additional trains to and from Fenchurch Street, some of which terminate at Leigh-on-Sea.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Benfleet		c2c London, Tilbury and Southend line		Chalkwell
Historical services
Preceding station	London Underground			Following station
Upminster towards Wimbledon, Richmond or Ealing Broadway		District line		Southend Central towards Shoeburyness