![]() Congleton station in 2023 | |||||
General information | |||||
Location | Congleton, Cheshire East England | ||||
Grid reference | SJ872623 | ||||
Owned by | Network Rail | ||||
Managed by | Northern Trains | ||||
Line(s) | Stafford-Manchester | ||||
Platforms | Formerly 3, [1] [2] [3] 2 in use [1] [2] | ||||
Train operators | Northern Trains [nb 1] | ||||
Construction | |||||
Architectural style | Pseude-Tudor (when built), [4] Utilitarian (rebuild) [4] | ||||
Other information | |||||
Station code | CNG [5] | ||||
Classification | DfT category E | ||||
History | |||||
Opened | 9 October 1848 [6] [7] | ||||
Rebuilt | 1966[8] | ||||
Electrified | 1967[2] | ||||
Original company | North Staffordshire Railway [2] | ||||
Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway [9] | ||||
Key dates | |||||
1870 | Signal box built [7] | ||||
1 June 1864 | Biddulph Valley Line passenger services commenced [10] | ||||
1892 | Footbridge erected [7] | ||||
11 July 1927 | Biddulph Valley Line passenger services withdrawn [10] | ||||
1930 | Third platform added [3] | ||||
1976 | Closed to goods [11] | ||||
2004 | Refurbished [1] [12] | ||||
December 2008 | Hourly service Monday-Saturday introduced [13] | ||||
2018 | Booking hall refurbished [1] | ||||
6 July 2020 | CrossCountry services suspended [14] [15] [16] | ||||
2021 | Footbridge refurbished [1] [17] [18] | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2019/20 | ![]() | ||||
2020/21 | ![]() | ||||
2021/22 | ![]() | ||||
2022/23 | ![]() | ||||
2023/24 | ![]() | ||||
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Congleton railway station serves the market town of Congleton,in Cheshire,England. It lies on the Stafford-Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line.
Plans for a railway station in the town were first announced by the North Staffordshire Railway on 30 April 1845. [19] Congleton was to be the terminus of a planned line to Colwich,via Burslem and Stoke-on-Trent;this route was to be called the Pottery Line. [19]
The Stafford-Manchester line from Stoke-on-Trent to Congleton was opened on 9 October 1848 by the North Staffordshire Railway;the station opened on the same day. [6] There was only one sets of lines that had been built between Congleton and Harecastle;this meant that approaching trains had to receive a signal from the station master before entering. [20] Some North Staffordshire Railway through trains used the Potteries Loop Line. [21]
The North Staffordshire Railway ran a limited number of passenger trains Monday-Saturday between Congleton and Uttoxeter,calling at stations on the Potteries Loop line. [nb 2]
Congleton was the terminus for two routes:
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 buildings were demolished and rebuilt in 1966,as part of the modernisation and electrification programme of the West Coast Main Line; [8] the signal box and level crossing were also removed. [25]
After the closure of the goods yard at Brunswick Wharf in Buglawton on 1 April 1968, [26] [27] sand was delivered by train to the station instead. [28]
Under British Railways,Congleton was served by many special services from Stoke-on-Trent via the Potteries Loop line. [29] In 1972,the Royal Train stopped at Congleton as part of a visit to the town by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. [30]
In 1976,the station was closed to goods services. [11]
It was one of the boundary stations for the short-lived Network NorthWest sector of British Rail. [31]
The station has,in the past,been subjected to vandalism. [32] [33] [34]
The station was previously served by the following:
The station has a staffed ticket office which is open on weekdays 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 chargeable car park and bicycle storage available. Step-free access is available to both of the platforms. [40]
There is a waiting room on the southbound platform; [33] however,this is boarded up and closed to the public.
As part of the Congleton Transport Development Plan,Cheshire East Council has proposed improving the quality of the station buildings,and the cycling and parking facilities;the idea of a park and ride service has also been raised. [41] [42]
Northern Trains operates hourly services in each direction between Stoke-on-Trent,Macclesfield,Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly. There are six rail replacement bus services each way on Sundays. [43] [44]
Preceding station | ![]() | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Limited Service | Northern Trains | |||
Previous services | ||||
CrossCountry Peak Hours Only Monday-Saturday Only | ||||
Preceding station | Historical railways | Following station | ||
Line open station closed | North Staffordshire Railway | Line open station closed | ||
Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
Terminus | North Staffordshire Railway | Line and station closed | ||
Line and station open | North Staffordshire Railway Potteries Loop Line (Through Trains Only) | Line and station closed | ||
Terminus | North Staffordshire Railway Potteries Loop Line (Limited service Monday-Saturday Only) | Line and station closed | ||
Terminus | London, Midland and Scottish Railway | Line and station closed | ||
Terminus | London, Midland and Scottish Railway | Line and station closed |
Congleton has often been recognised as one of the best-kept stations on the Stoke to Manchester line; it was maintained by Congleton in Bloom. [45]
It won the Best Kept Station award in the Stoke-on-Trent division in 1983 and 1984. [46]
XXXIV.The goods station remained open until the end of 1976 and the warehouse was used afterwards as a permanent way store.