Gathurst railway station

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2+3⁄4 miles (4.4 kilometres) north west of Wigan Wallgate station. It is currently operated by Northern Trains.

Contents

The main stone-built station building survives adjacent to the Wigan-bound platform, but is now in use for non-railway purposes (as a public house), modest shelters now being provided on both platforms for rail travellers.

History

The station opened on 9 April 1855 when the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) opened the line from Wigan Wallgate to Southport London Street, the line and station had been planned, authorised and construction started by the Manchester and Southport Railway before it was acquired by the L&YR on 3 July 1854. [1] [2] The main stone-built station building (no longer in use) was built during this time, in the standard L&YR style which had been described as "solid, substantial, well built of stone in the Elizabethan style, neat without undue ornament". [3]

The station was renamed Gathurst for Shevington around 1934 and then back to Gathurst on 5 May 1975. [1]

The L&YR amalgamated with the London and North Western Railway on 1 January 1922 and in turn was grouped into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923. Nationalisation followed in 1948. When Sectorisation was introduced in the 1980s, the station was served by Regional Railways until the privatisation of British Rail. The goods yard served as an exchange with the ICI Nobels Roburite Works narrow gauge railway.

Facilities

The station is unstaffed and has no ticket machine, so all tickets must be bought prior to travel or on the train. Train running information can be obtained by phone and timetable posters. There is step-free access to both platforms. [4]

Services

On Monday to Saturday, there are two trains an hour westbound to Southport and eastbound to Wigan. Beyond here, services run via Bolton to either Stalybridge via Manchester Victoria or Manchester Oxford Road (services beyond there towards Manchester Piccadilly and points south ended at the winter 2022 timetable change). There are no direct trains via Atherton, except on a Sunday (travellers to these destinations and for stations along the Calder Valley line now need to change at Wigan). [5]

Sunday services are hourly each way and continue to Blackburn eastbound.

Gathurst
National Rail logo.svg
Former station house, Gathurst railway station (geograph 4531518).jpg
Gathurst railway station in 2015, the L&YR-era station building is now a public house.
General information
Location Gathurst, Wigan
England
Grid reference SD541071
Managed by Northern Trains
Transit authority Greater Manchester
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeGST
Classification DfT category F1
History
Opened9 April 1855 (1855-04-09)
Original company Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Pre-grouping Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Post-grouping London Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
about 1934renamed Gathurst for Shevington
5 May 1975renamed Gathurst
Passengers
2019/20Increase2.svg 106,722
Preceding station National Rail logo.svg National Rail Following station
Northern Trains

References

  1. 1 2 Quick 2023, p. 205.
  2. ↑ Grant 2017, p. 358.
  3. ↑ Marshall 1969, p. 158.
  4. ↑ Gathurst station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 20 December 2016
  5. ↑ Table 101 National Rail timetable, May 2025

Bibliography

53°33′34″N2°41′37″W / 53.5594°N 2.6937°W / 53.5594; -2.6937


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