Epping is a major rail terminus for the Northeastern Mainline (NEML), serving as a connection point between mainline and metro services. Being on the outskirts of Greater Limaru, the station sees many through services which continue on towards city-centre termini like Katsuragi and Lipan Central.
History
Beginning in 1921 as a tiny 2-platform halt on the Northeastern Main Line, the station expanded to 4 platforms when the Southern Connecting Mainline was built. In its early days, Epping served as a terminus for suburban trains arriving from Lipan via the Southern Connecting Mainline. Since the Southern Connecting Mainline was connected to the Northeastern Mainline via a rail triangle, Epping gained the nickname of "Rail Triangle".
Starting in the 1960s when the mainline south of Epping was rerouted to ply over the Otaki River instead of taking up land on the ground, Epping became the new southern terminus of the Northeastern Mainline. Due to the sudden influx of passengers, a renovation of Epping station was done to handle the larger passenger flow. The Tozai Line was also extended to connect to Epping, providing an escalator interchange with the mainlines.
Between 1988 and 2013, the Tokaido Line and Northeast Extension Line platforms above West Bank Road were listed as "Epping Station" as it was the closest station to Epping Town, however those platforms have since been renamed to a different station, Kotobukiya Street Station. There is no transit area connection between Kotobukiya Street and Epping stations.
Station layout
The current Epping station has 6 platforms and 6 tracks, each pair serving a different service.
- NEML through from SCL
- NEML to SCL
- NEML from Eastminster Depot
- NEML terminating
- Tozai Line to Downtown, Rising Sun, Zaigon, Katsuragi and Sun Moon Lake
- Tozai Line terminating
There is no separation between express and local services as all trains stop at this station.