Parts of this article (those related to Future) need to be updated.(April 2021) |
Harrogate line | |||
---|---|---|---|
Overview | |||
Status | Operational | ||
Owner | Network Rail | ||
Locale | West Yorkshire North Yorkshire | ||
Termini | |||
Stations | 14 | ||
Service | |||
Type | Heavy rail | ||
System | National Rail | ||
Operator(s) | Northern London North Eastern Railway | ||
Depot(s) | Neville Hill | ||
Rolling stock | Class 150 Sprinter Class 155 Super Sprinter Class 158 Express Sprinter Class 170 Turbostar Class 800 Azuma | ||
History | |||
Opened | 1848 | ||
Technical | |||
Line length | 39-mile (62 km) | ||
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
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The Harrogate line is a passenger rail line through parts of North Yorkshire and the West Yorkshire area of northern England connecting Leeds to York by way of Harrogate and Knaresborough. Service on the line is operated by Northern, with a few additional workings by London North Eastern Railway starting and terminating at Harrogate. West Yorkshire Metro's bus and rail MetroCard ticket is available for journeys between Leeds and Harrogate. [1]
The routes over which the Harrogate line trains now run were opened in 1848 by two of the railways which came to be part of the North Eastern Railway: the Leeds Northern Railway and the East and West Yorkshire Junction Railway . At the time of the 1923 Grouping the Harrogate area formed the junction for five routes: the main line was that of the Leeds-Northallerton railway; the other lines were to:
The Leeds station at the time was Leeds Central station, jointly owned by the NER and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.
The line terminated in Harrogate at the Brunswick station which was opened in 1848 but closed in 1862 when a new and more central station was opened.
The 39-mile (62 km) line is composed of all or part of the following Network Rail routes:
LNE 6A | M–Ch | km |
---|---|---|
Leeds West Junction | 0–00 | 0.00 |
Whitehall Junction | 0–25 | 0.50 |
Headingley | 2–67 | 4.55 |
Horsforth | 5–37 | 8.80 |
Weeton | 11–38 | 18.45 |
Pannal | 14–59 | 23.70 |
Harrogate | 18–00 | 28.95 |
LNE 6 | M–Ch | km |
---|---|---|
Harrogate | 0–00 | 0.00 |
Starbeck | 2–11 | 3.45 |
Knaresborough | 3–64 | 6.10 |
Cattal | 10–18 | 16.45 |
Hammerton | 11–57 | 18.85 |
Poppleton | 17–34 | 28.05 |
Skelton Junction | 18–68 | 30.35 |
Currently open stations are shown in bold font.
In addition to the regular services on the Harrogate line, there is occasionally an increased service which runs prior to and after a major event on at Headingley Stadium such as an international cricket test match. The services run between Leeds and Horsforth stations to cater for a large usage at Headingley and Burley Park railway stations, and tickets are sold by Revenue Protection staff at the entrances to the platforms. This is to reduce the queue for tickets at Leeds station. Extra services have also been run on the Harrogate line for the Great Yorkshire Show. [8]
In July 2014, the Tour de France Grand Depart 2014 was held in Yorkshire with stage 1 from Leeds to Harrogate and thousands of spectators were expected. Extra trains were operated in this occasion. In addition to the local trains which were run at increased capacity, [9] [10] two locomotive hauled services ran between Leeds and Harrogate during the day. Passengers wishing to travel between the depart at Leeds and first day finishing at Harrogate were required to wait separately outside Leeds station rather than proceed through the barriers, given the limited capacity through the station.
The route is served by Northern Trains rolling stock; the most common seen on the line is the Class 170 Turbostar, and Class 150 Sprinters, Class 155 Super Sprinters and Class 158 Express Sprinters often make appearances on the line as well. London North Eastern Railway services use the Class 800 Azuma. [11] [12]
In July 2011, Harrogate Chamber of Commerce proposed electrifying the line with 750 V DC third rail, using D Stock of the London Underground, to substantially increase capacity. [13] The D stock's replacement by S Stock on the District line in 2015 has made them available for other locations. It is proposed that the stock will be converted to use the bottom-contact third rail system. [14] The scheme never gained support from Metro, Northern Rail or National Rail, generally overhead electrification is favoured and is the only method used in the region. Furthermore, the D stock is older than current stock using the line and runs on a fourth rail system, although D Stock units have successfully been converted to 3rd rail operation as Class 484s.
Several new stations have also been proposed, including at Flaxby and Knaresborough East. In November 2013 Rail Magazine reported on plans for the line to be electrified at 25 kV AC overhead power lines which could be in use by 2019. This would mean that there would be two electric lines to York from Leeds, the other being Leeds to York via Cross Gates which will soon be electrified.
On 5 March 2015, the Harrogate line, amongst others in the area including the Leeds–Bradford Interchange–Halifax line, the Selby–Hull line and the Northallerton–Middlesbrough line were named top priority for electrification; with an estimated cost for the Harrogate line of £93 million with a projected cost-benefit ratio of 1/3.60. No date has been set however. [15]
From December 2017, additional services on Sundays began with an extra hourly service from Leeds to Knaresborough during the day. This means trains between Knaresborough/Harrogate and Leeds are now every 30 minutes during the daytime on Sundays. Funding has been secured for signalling and infrastructure upgrades on the section of line between Knaresborough and York. This will allow an enhanced passenger service of two trains per hour. However, the proposal to re-open Goldsborough railway station to serve a new housing estate, would jeopardise reliable timings on the train service. [16] The £13 million scheme will be carried out over the summer and autumn of 2020 with improved signalling. This will allow two services an hour between York, Knaresborough and Harrogate. [17]
In December 2019, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), intend to increase their one train a day, between Harrogate and London King's Cross, to six trains each way per day, including weekends. [18] The service will be suitable for an increase in service pattern due to LNER using its bi-mode class 800 Azuma trains that would have previously terminated at Leeds. A siding at the northern end of Harrogate station has been brought back into use to enable the trains to reverse direction. [19]
Since 1 March 2020 services have been directly operated by the Department for Transport (DfT) under the brand name Northern Trains, with an objective of "stabilising performance and restoring reliability for passengers". [20]
The city was previously served by Ripon railway station on the Leeds–Northallerton line that ran between Leeds and Northallerton. [21] It was once part of the North Eastern Railway and then LNER.
The Ripon line was closed to passengers on 6 March 1967 and to freight on 5 September 1969 as part of the wider Beeching Axe, despite a vigorous campaign by local campaigners, including the city's MP. [21] Today much of the route of the line through the city is now a relief road and although the former station still stands, it is now surrounded by a new housing development. The issue remains a significant one in local politics and there are movements wanting to restore the line. [21] Reports suggest the reopening of a line between Ripon and Harrogate railway station would be economically viable, costing £40 million and could initially attract 1,200 passengers a day, rising to 2,700. [21] [22] [23] Campaigners call on MPs to restore Ripon railway link. [24]
In the former North Yorkshire County Council's 'A Strategic Transport Prospectus for North Yorkshire', they propose to build an entirely new railway between Leeds, Harrogate and Ripon which would have a junction with the East Coast Main Line north of Northallerton station. This would enable 125 mph (201 km/h) running, reduce journey times and provide an alternative route when the current Leeds to York to Northallerton section is closed. [25]
Upper Poppleton is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England. It is situated by the west bank of the River Ouse adjacent to Nether Poppleton, and west of York close to the A59 from York to Harrogate. The village is served by Poppleton railway station on the Harrogate Line. According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 1,961, increasing to 1,997 at the 2011 Census. Before 1996, it was part of the Borough of Harrogate.
The Wharfedale line is one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service connects Ilkley with Leeds and Bradford, and is operated by Northern Trains. West Yorkshire Metrocards are available for use on the line, covering Zones 3–5. The line is served predominantly by four-coach Class 333 electric multiple units as well as some three-coach Class 331 EMUs.
The Airedale line is one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area centred on West Yorkshire in northern England. The service is operated by Northern, on the route connecting Leeds and Bradford with Skipton. Some services along the line continue to Morecambe or Carlisle. The route covered by the service was historically part of the Midland Railway.
Northallerton railway station is on the East Coast Main Line serving the town of Northallerton in North Yorkshire, England. It is between Thirsk to the south and Darlington to the north. Its three-letter station code is NTR.
Headingley railway station is off Kirkstall Lane in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, on the Harrogate Line, 3 miles (5 km) north west of Leeds. The station was opened in 1849 by the Leeds & Thirsk Railway, later part of the Leeds Northern Railway to Northallerton.
Horsforth railway station serves the town of Horsforth in West Yorkshire, England. It is a stop on the Harrogate Line, 5.75 miles (9 km) north-west of Leeds, and is the final stop in the West Yorkshire Metro regulated area towards Harrogate.
Pannal railway station serves the villages of Pannal and Spacey Houses in the southern suburbs of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, equidistant from both. It also serves the village of Burn Bridge, on the opposite side of Pannal. It is located on the Harrogate Line 15 miles (24 km) north of Leeds and operated by Northern who provide all passenger train services.
Harrogate railway station serves the town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Located on the Harrogate Line it is 18.25 miles (29 km) north of Leeds. Northern Trains operate the station and provide local passenger train services, with a London North Eastern Railway service to and from London King's Cross running six times per day.
Starbeck is a railway station on the Harrogate Line, which runs between Leeds and York via Harrogate. The station, situated 18+1⁄4 miles (29 km) west of York, serves the village of Starbeck, in North Yorkshire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
Knaresborough railway station is a Grade II listed station serving the town of Knaresborough in North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Harrogate Line 16.75 miles (27 km) west of York and is operated by Northern Trains, who provide all passenger train services.
Hammerton is a railway station on the Harrogate Line, which runs between Leeds and York via Harrogate. The station, situated 8+3⁄4 miles (14 km) west of York, serves the villages of Green Hammerton and Kirk Hammerton, Borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
Poppleton is a railway station on the Harrogate Line, which runs between Leeds and York via Harrogate. The station, situated 2 miles 72 chains (4.7 km) west of York, serves the villages of Nether Poppleton and Upper Poppleton, City of York in North Yorkshire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
The Leeds–Northallerton railway is a partly disused railway line between West and North Yorkshire, in northern England.
The 36 is a bus service operated by The Harrogate Bus Company, which links Leeds, Harewood and Harrogate with Ripley and Ripon. It is operated by a fleet of high-specification Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TL double-deck vehicles, branded in a red and black livery.
Wetherby railway station was built on the North Eastern Railway's Cross Gates to Wetherby Line on Linton Road. It replaced an earlier station on York Road which had opened on 1 May 1876.
Ripon railway station was a railway station that served Ripon, North Yorkshire, England on the Leeds-Northallerton Line that ran between Harrogate and Northallerton.
The Leeds Northern Railway (LNR), originally the Leeds and Thirsk Railway, was an English railway company that built and opened a line from Leeds to Stockton via Harrogate and Thirsk. In 1845 the Leeds and Thirsk Railway received permission for a line from Leeds to Thirsk, part of which opened in 1848, but problems building the Bramhope Tunnel delayed trains operating into Leeds until 1849.
The East and West Yorkshire Junction Railway was a railway company established in 1846 between the Leeds and Thirsk Railway at Knaresborough and the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway near York, England. The company merged into the York and North Midland Railway in 1852.
Leeds/Bradford Airport Parkway station is a proposed railway station near Horsforth, Leeds, in West Yorkshire. It would have around 300 parking spaces serving Leeds Bradford Airport along with adjoining areas including Cookridge, Bramhope and Yeadon and would be situated on the existing Leeds-Harrogate-York route north of the existing Horsforth station. The proposal uses both the existing dedicated airport car park bus services and the existing main line railway infrastructure with the new station thus enabling frequent direct access to Leeds, Harrogate, Knaresborough and York along with many other rail journeys using interchange at Leeds or York stations.
The network of railways in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, England, was constructed by three companies whose lines through the town were built between 1841 and 1852. They were all amalgamated into the North Eastern Railway (NER) which in turn was subsumed into the London and North Eastern Railway in 1923 and British Rail in 1948. British Rail closed two lines, the Wensleydale line in 1954 and a section of the Leeds Northern Railway to Harrogate in 1969. The Wensleydale line was retained as a freight branch and resurrected as a heritage railway in 2003 but the line to Harrogate closed completely. Despite closures and rationalisation, the station still is at a major junction on the East Coast Main Line.