Walton-on-Thames station is an important commuter hub in Surrey, serving a large residential area stretching from the river and town centre in the north to Hersham and Burwood Park in the south. At rush hour there are four trains per hour running to London, with only one stop before Waterloo, connecting commuters with the capital in just 25 minutes.
The station first opened in 1838, and helped to turn the area into a desirable suburb. A regeneration project in 2006 gave the town centre an extensive covered shopping mall and pedestrianised boulevard-style streets - an area now known as The Heart. The station is about a mile away from the centre, with buses running regularly and taking about 10 minutes. The river is also an important part of the community - the Thames Path National Trail is enjoyed by locals and visitors, and the riverside is home to several well-established watersports clubs.