Norbiton station is on the Kingston loop in south west London, about half an hour from Waterloo Station in central London. It is the stop before Kingston, and one gets off here for Kingston Hospital. It is in zone 5, and trains stopping here are operated by South Western. Due to the proximity of the hospital and local businesses, it does seem busier than the average suburban station, and certainly busier than its small-scale low-key looks would suggest.
It also has something of a distinguished history apparently, Queen Victoria always used this station when visiting the area on her royal train, as it's the only one in the vicinity with the platforms at ground level! Also, the station was used as a set in the sitcom 'The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin'.
There are no steps on the platform heading south to London; on the northward platform there are some steps, but also a step-free ramp exit (which is sometimes closed).
The ticket office opens 'till about 7 pm-ish in the evenings, when it closes (it also acts as the waiting room.) The website says it's open to 20h30 not in my experience as a regular commuter.
There are 60 spaces for cycle parking, and also a small car park. The station doesn't have a taxi rank.
Oyster cards do not operate out here pretty annoyingly. There are plans (at time of writing) to roll out oyster cards on all suburban London mainline trains, but Kingston will be the last area to get these sometime towards the end of 2010.
The station has a really excellent independent coffee stall, selling coffees, teas, juices and various pastries. The proprietor always has a friendly smile and remembers his regulars' orders. Big queues in the morning rush hour. read more