In message , Tom
Anderson writes

That is one conclusion. The other is that the shops and the exhibition
centre are in the wrong place.

That isn't an entirely facetious comment - the location of the station
probably had a lot to do with the structure of development in the area.

When the line was built through Earls Court in 1869, no station was
thought necessary as the area was still mostly market gardens.

Housing rapidly followed the railway and, after petitioning by residents
a small wooden station was built to the EAST of Earl's Court Road in
1871 (where lonelytraveller suggests it should be now).

This burned down in 1875 and was replaced by the present station, a
larger site being deemed necessary as the area was rapidly becoming
built-up. What is now the Earl's Court Exhibition Centre was just waste
ground (but used for various shows) on the triangle created by the
railway lines to the west of the new station - the exhibition hall was
not completed until 1937.

So the area actually developed around the railway, rather than
vice-versa.

--
Paul Terry