Congleton railway station

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Congleton
National Rail
Congleton station.jpg
Congleton railway station in 2018
LocationCongleton, Cheshire East
England
Grid referenceSJ872623
Owned byNetwork Rail
Managed byNorthern Trains
Line(s)Stafford-Manchester
PlatformsFormerly 3[1][2]
[3]
2 in use[1][2]
Train operatorsNorthern Trains[nb 1]
Bus routes94 Congleton to Newcastle under Lyme[nb 2]
Other information
Station codeCNG[4]
ClassificationDfT category E
History
Opened9 October 1848[5][6]
Electrified1967[2]
Original companyNorth Staffordshire Railway[2]
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway[7]
Key dates
1870Signal box built[6]
1 June 1864Biddulph Valley Line passenger services commenced[8]
1892Footbridge erected[6]
11 July 1927Biddulph Valley Line passenger services withdrawn[8]
1930Third platform added[3]
1965Level crossing gates removed[9]
2004Refurbished[1][10]
2018Booking hall refurbished[1]
6 July 2020CrossCountry services suspended[11][12]
2021Footbridge refurbished[1][13][14]
Passengers
2016/17Increase 0.347 million
2017/18Increase 0.348 million
2018/19Decrease 0.314 million
2019/20Increase 0.333 million
2020/21Decrease 58,250
Location
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Congleton railway station is a mainline station serving the Cheshire town of Congleton. It lies on the Stafford-Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line in the United Kingdom.

History[]

Congleton railway station in 1986.

The Stafford-Manchester line from Stoke-on-Trent to Congleton was opened on 9 October 1848 by the North Staffordshire Railway, with Congleton station opening on the same day.[5]

Congleton railway station was the northern terminus for passenger trains on the Biddulph Valley Line.[8]

In 1930 a third platform was added by the Nestle's Anglo Condensed Milk Company due to the importance of milk to economy of Congleton.[3]

The station has, in the past, been subjected to vandalism.[15][16]

In early privatisation, Virgin CrossCountry served the station Monday to Saturday.[2]

CrossCountry operated a number of limited peak-hour services between Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and Bournemouth until 6 July 2020.[11][12]

Facilities[]

The station has a staffed ticket office which is open during weekday and Saturday mornings with two self-service ticket machines available for ticket purchases at other times as well as modern help points on both platforms.

There is a waiting room on the southbound platform[16] however this is boarded up and closed to the public.

The station has a chargeable car park and bicycle storage available. Step-free access is available to both the platforms at Congleton.[17]

Services[]

A low flat-roofed building with cars parked outside
Entrance to Congleton station

Off-peak service in trains per hour is:[18]

  • 1 tph to Manchester Piccadilly via Macclesfield
  • 1 tph to Stoke-on-Trent

On Sundays, there is a reduced service of six trains in each direction throughout the day. This was increased from 5 each way in December 2018. The station was due to gain hourly Sunday services as part of the Northern franchise when operated by Arriva Rail North.[19] These improvements were cancelled when Northern Trains took over the Northern franchise.

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Stoke-on-Trent
Limited Service
Northern Trains
Macclesfield
Kidsgrove
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station
North Rode
Line open station closed
North Staffordshire Railway
Line open station closed
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
TerminusNorth Staffordshire Railway
Mossley Halt
Line and station closed

Stationmasters[]

Below is a list of stationmasters for Congleton Railway Station.

  • Mr Fordham (1950s)[20]

Accidents and incidents[]

On 27 December 1864 there was a collision between a London and North Western Railway goods engine and van and a North Staffordshire Railway passenger train at Congleton junction where the Biddulph Valley line joined the Stafford-Manchester line.[21]

On 17 February 1899 there was a collision at Congleton railway station.[22]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Greensmith, Alex (17 November 2021). "VIDEO: Congleton Train Station passenger footbridge reopens after refurbishment". Congleton Nub News. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Paul Shannon & John Hillmer (2003). British Railways Past and Present no 40 Cheshire. Kettering: Past & Present Publishing Ltd. p. 101. ISBN 1-85895-232-8.
  3. ^ a b c Jeuda, Basil (11 July 2010). The North Staffordshire Railway In the LMS Days Volume 1. Lydney: Lightmore Press. p. 41. ISBN 1899889485.
  4. ^ "National Rail Enquiries - Station facilities for Congleton". www.nationalrail.co.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b Quick, Michael. "Railway Passenger Stations in Great Britain" (PDF). Railway & Canal Historical Society. p. 139. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Jeuda, Basil (1 May 1996). THE KNOTTY An Illustrated Survey Of The North Staffordshire Railway. Lydney: Lightmoor Press. p. 42. ISBN 1899889019.
  7. ^ "Extracts from the Chronicle Files". The Congleton Chronicle. 11 November 2021. p. 6.
  8. ^ a b c "Activities and Information About the Biddulph Valley Way". www.cheshireeast.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  9. ^ Stephens, W. B. (1970). History of Congleton. Manchester University Press. p. 116. ISBN 0719012457.
  10. ^ "NETWORK RAIL'S STATION CHALLENGE PROJECT". Network Rail. 14 June 2004. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Covid-19 Timetable Changes". CrossCountry. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  12. ^ a b Eadie, Richard (20 July 2020). "Letter: CrossCountry decision will "significantly impact" Congleton's rail service". Congleton Nub News. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Refurbished Congleton station footbridge reopens for passengers". Network Rail. 16 November 2021. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Footbridge steps out after £320k upgrade". The Congleton Chronicle. 2 December 2021. p. 28.
  15. ^ "HELP US BEAT THE YOBS". Warrington Guardian. 24 March 2000. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  16. ^ a b "VANDALISM IS THE WORST IT HAS BEEN FOR 18 YEARS". Warrington Guardian. 5 January 2001. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Congleton station information". Northern Trains. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  18. ^ Table 84 National Rail timetable, December 2021
  19. ^ "Northern franchise improvements". Gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Chronicling the Past". The Congleton Chronicle. 13 December 2018. p. 30.
  21. ^ Report of the Inspecting Officers of the Railway Department to the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council for Trade upon certain accidents which have occurred on Tye Railways. Eyre & Spottiswoode. 1864. pp. 75–77.
  22. ^ Report on the Collision at Congleton Station on 17th February 1899 North Staffordshire Railway. Board of Trade. 1899.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Hourly service Monday-Saturday, 5 services on a Sunday
  2. ^ Towards Newcastle only

External links[]

Coordinates: 53°09′29″N 2°11′35″W / 53.158°N 2.193°W / 53.158; -2.193

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