PRIOR to the deadly coronavirus pandemic hitting our shores, south Essex’s train stations were bustling with commuters every day.

With some workers now beginning to return to their offices in London and across Essex, with lockdown restrictions being eased over time, the trains are starting to become a little busier than they had been in recent months.

However, changes have been made to combat the spread of coronavirus, such as commuters having to wear face masks throughout their journey.

As government guidelines continue to be altered on a daily basis, our trains are sure to become busier.

Echo:

Using public transport - a host of commuters outside Southend Central station in May 1975

These retro snaps from the Echo archive show our stations have always been bustling.

Train passengers are a long-suffering bunch and these photographs show the problems of delays and cancellations have been the same through the decades.

Echo:

Retro journey planner - train information is written onto a chalkboard during strike action in May 1980

The carriages themselves may look a little different to what we have come to expect on the c2c and Greater Anglia services, but the pictures of busy platforms at our south Essex stations in the 1970s and 1980s look all too familiar - other than the fashion sense.

While Southend Central station has been in existence since the 19th century, Basildon station is a relatively new creation, having been built in the early 1970s.

Echo:

Nearing completion - construction of the new Basildon station platform in October 1973, with the grand opening coming a year later

Getting Basildon’s commuters into the nation’s capital in double quick time was of paramount importance and ensuring a station was on the locals’ doorstep resulted in a huge construction job.

Basildon station was completed in time for the official opening in late 1974.

Echo:

Fright in south Essex - passengers wait patiently outside Southend Central station following a bomb scare in August 1973

As our county - and the rest of the nation - attempts to get back to some form of normality in the coming weeks and months following the coronavirus pandemic, packed platforms, trains filled to the rafters and delays will become all too familiar once again.

Join us on a trip down memory lane by joining our ‘We grew up in Essex’ Facebook group. If you have old photos and stories to share with our readers, simply complete our online form.

Echo:

Not pleasant - Basildon station’s waiting room is closed in January 1975 due to some unsavoury passengers

READ MORE

Scroll down to see more of our snaps from south Essex train stations in the 1970s and 1980s.

Echo:

Heading to the capital - a train on its way to London Fenchurch Street waits at Southend Central station in 1979

Echo:

Stand behind the yellow line - a platform at Wickford station is packed to the rafters on a weekday morning in February 1973

Echo:

Hazardous - rubbish strewn over the tracks at Southend Victoria in February 1982

Echo:

Big day out - pupils at Kingswood Infant School take a trip from the newly-opened Basildon station in November 1974

Echo:

Forming an orderly queue - passengers use the new Basildon station ticket office in November 1974