Holyhead railway station

Last updated

105+12 miles (170 km) west of Crewe and is managed by Transport for Wales Rail. It connects with the Port of Holyhead ferry terminal. The station is connected to the town centre by a stainless steel pedestrian/cycle bridge named The Celtic Gateway (Welsh: Porth Celtaidd).

Contents

History

The 3.15 p.m. Irish Boat Train in Holyhead station, 1905 Irish boat train in Holyhead station 1905.jpg
The 3.15 p.m. Irish Boat Train in Holyhead station, 1905
Holyhead station in September 1967 under British Rail. Holyhead 9 67322 1.jpg
Holyhead station in September 1967 under British Rail.

The first station in Holyhead was opened by the Chester and Holyhead Railway on 1 August 1848, but this was replaced by the second on 15 May 1851. [2]

The present station was opened by the London and North Western Railway on 17 January 1866 [2] and still retains its overall roof. It is believed to be the longest train shed in Wales. [1] It originally had four platforms, but only three are currently in use, the track to the former platform three having been lifted. The station approach contains a Grade II listed clock turret [3] which was unveiled on 17 June 1878 by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales to mark completion of old harbour extension. The clock is by J. B. Joyce & Co of Whitchurch.

Platform one on the western side of the station is separated from the other two by the ferry terminal buildings and inner harbour and is the one normally used by Avanti West Coast services to London Euston. Most Transport for Wales DMU services use platform two. Platform three is outside the train shed and is used by the early morning Premier Service to Cardiff Central, plus a few other trains at busy periods. There are carriage sidings and servicing facilities alongside platform one, whilst platform three also has an engine release line & run-round loop available.

A rail-served container terminal next to the station closed in 1991 when the traffic transferred to Liverpool. [4] It has since been demolished and is now used as a car parking area for the Stena Line ferry service. [5]

Passenger ships previously used to berth in the inner harbour next to Platform 1, this ceased when the port was re-developed. Stena Line built an administration building between platforms 1 and 2 in the early 1990s.

Stationmasters

  • Charles Massingberd 1848 - 1879 [6]
  • William Guest 1879 - 1906 [7]
  • Joseph Jones until 1912 [8] (afterwards station master at London Euston)
  • Andrew William Taylor 1912 [9] - 1913 (formerly station master at Flint, afterwards station master at Wigan)
  • Hugh Morgan 1913 - 1936 [10]
  • H.W. Smith 1936 - 1942 [11]

Facilities

Interior of the joint railway station and ferry terminal Railway station and ferry terminal in Holyhead.jpg
Interior of the joint railway station and ferry terminal

The station is fully staffed, with the ticket office in the main ferry terminal being staffed seven days a week. Self-service ticket machines are also provided. The terminal offers covered waiting accommodation, a payphone, a photo booth, a left luggage office, toilets, shops, and a cafe. Train running details are offered via digital information screens, timetable posters and automated announcements. Step-free access is available to all platforms. [12]

Services

Stena House and Platform 2 Stena House and the covered section of Holyhead Station - geograph.org.uk - 872227.jpg
Stena House and Platform 2

Holyhead is served by a basic Transport for Wales hourly service throughout the week (although less frequently on winter Sundays) to Shrewsbury with services continuing to Birmingham International and Cardiff Central on alternate hours. A limited number of trains (mostly early morning and late evening) run to/from Crewe, whilst two services operate to Manchester Piccadilly on weekdays only. On Sundays, most services run to/from Crewe, with a limited number of trains to Birmingham, Cardiff and Manchester. [13]

Avanti West Coast operate services to London Euston and Crewe via the West Coast Main Line. On weekdays, there are 4 trains per day to London Euston, as well as 3 trains per day which run only as far as Crewe. On Saturdays, there are 3 trains per day to London Euston and 1 train to Crewe, and on Sundays there are 3 trains per day to London Euston. [14]

Holyhead station adjoins the Port of Holyhead, where sailings to Dublin are operated by Irish Ferries and Stena Line. Up to September 2014 Stena Line operated a high-speed service to Dún Laoghaire, a suburb 12km south of Dublin City Centre.

Holyhead

Welsh: Caergybi
National Rail logo.svg
Holyhead Railway Station, Holy Island (507270) (32932192272).jpg
General information
Location Holyhead, Anglesey
Wales
Coordinates 53°18′29″N4°37′52″W / 53.308°N 4.631°W / 53.308; -4.631
Grid reference SH247822
Owned by Network Rail
Managed by Transport for Wales Rail
Platforms3
Other information
Station codeHHD
Classification DfT category E
History
Original company Chester and Holyhead Railway
Pre-grouping London and North Western Railway
Post-grouping London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
1 August 1848 (1848-08-01)First station opened
15 May 1851Station resited
1 January 1866Station resited
Passengers
2018/19Decrease2.svg 0.217 million
Preceding station  National Rail logo.svg National Rail  Following station
Transport for Wales Rail Terminus
Transport for Wales Rail Terminus
Avanti West Coast Terminus
BSicon BOOT.svg Ferry services
Terminus  Irish Ferries
Ferry
  Dublin Port
Terminus  Irish Ferries
high-speed catamaran
  Dublin Port
Terminus  Stena Line
Ferry
  Dublin Port

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holyhead</span> Port town in Isle of Anglesey, Wales

Holyhead is the largest town and a community in the county of Isle of Anglesey, Wales, with a population of 13,659 at the 2011 census.. Holyhead is on Holy Island, bounded by the Irish Sea to the north, and is separated from Anglesey island by the narrow Cymyran Strait and was originally connected to Anglesey via the Four Mile Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham International railway station</span> Railway station in the West Midlands, England

Birmingham International is a railway station known by code "BHI" in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in the West Midlands of England, just east of Birmingham. It is on the Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line 14 km (8.7 mi) east of Birmingham New Street railway station. BHI serves Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre, the Resorts World Arena, and Resorts World Birmingham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crewe railway station</span> Railway station in Cheshire, England

Crewe railway station serves the railway town of Crewe, in Cheshire, England. It opened in 1837 and is one of the most historically significant railway stations in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Wales Main Line</span> Railway line in north Wales

The North Wales Main Line, also known as the North Wales Coast Line, is a major railway line in the north of Wales and Cheshire, England, running from Crewe on the West Coast Main Line to Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey. The line has 19 stations, with all except two, Chester and Crewe, being in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Shropshire</span> Overview of rail transport in Shropshire, England

The English county of Shropshire has a fairly large railway network, with 19 National Rail stations on various national lines; there are also a small number of heritage and freight lines, including the famous heritage Severn Valley Railway running along its eastern border with Worcestershire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh Marches line</span> Railway line

The Welsh Marches line, known historically as the North and West Route, is the railway line running from Newport in south-east Wales to Shrewsbury in the West Midlands region of England by way of Abergavenny, Hereford and Craven Arms and thence to Crewe via Whitchurch. The line thus links the south of Wales to north-west England via the Welsh Marches region, bypassing Birmingham. Through services from south-west Wales, Swansea and Cardiff to Manchester and from Cardiff to Wrexham, Chester, the north coast of Wales and Anglesey constitute the bulk of passenger operations on the route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangor railway station (Wales)</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Bangor railway station serves the city of Bangor, Gwynedd; it is operated by Transport for Wales. The station, which is 24+34 miles (40 km) east of Holyhead, is the last mainland station on the North Wales Coast line between Crewe and Holyhead. It is the busiest in terms of passenger numbers in North Wales, as it serves the community around Caernarfon and further west. It is close to the Snowdonia National Park and Bangor University, and has an interchange with bus services to the various towns and villages of north-west Gwynedd and Anglesey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamworth railway station</span> Railway station in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England

Tamworth is a split-level railway station which serves the market town of Tamworth in Staffordshire, England. It is an interchange between two main lines; the Cross Country Route and the Trent Valley section of the West Coast Main Line (WCML). It has four platforms: Two low-level platforms on the WCML, and, at a right-angle to, and passing over these, are two high-level platforms served by the Cross Country Route. Historically there were chords connecting the two lines, but there is no longer any rail connection between them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrewsbury railway station</span> Grade II listed railway station in Shropshire, England

Shrewsbury railway station serves the town of Shrewsbury, in Shropshire, England. Built in 1848, it was designated a grade II listed building in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llandudno Junction railway station</span> Railway station in Conwy, Wales

Llandudno Junction is a station serving the village of Llandudno Junction on the North Wales Main Line between Crewe and Holyhead. The station is managed by Transport for Wales Rail, although Avanti West Coast services also stop there. It is a junction for trains to Llandudno and the Conwy Valley line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Wales lines</span> Railway lines west of Swansea, Wales

The West Wales lines are a group of railway lines from Swansea through Carmarthenshire to Pembrokeshire, West Wales. The main part runs from Swansea to Carmarthen and Whitland, where it becomes three branches to Fishguard, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chester railway station</span> Railway station in Cheshire, England

Chester railway station is located in Newtown, Chester, England. Services are operated by Avanti West Coast, Merseyrail, Northern and Transport for Wales. From 1875 to 1969, the station was known as Chester General to distinguish it from Chester Northgate. The station's Italianate frontage was designed by the architect Francis Thompson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flint railway station</span> Railway station in Flintshire, Wales

Flint railway station serves the town of Flint in Flintshire, North Wales. It is located on the North Wales Coast Line and is managed by Transport for Wales, who provide most of the passenger trains that call here. There are certain Avanti West Coast services that serve the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Wales</span> Overview of the transportation system in Wales

Transport in Wales is heavily influenced by the country's geography. Wales is predominantly hilly or mountainous, and the main settlements lie on the coasts of north and south Wales, while mid Wales and west Wales are lightly populated. The main transport corridors are east–west routes, many continuing eastwards into England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llandudno railway station</span> Railway station in Conwy, Wales

Llandudno railway station serves the seaside town of Llandudno in North Wales. It is the terminus of a 3 miles (4.8 km) long branch line from Llandudno Junction on the North Wales Coast Line, between Crewe and Holyhead. The station is managed by Transport for Wales Rail, who operate all trains serving it. Llandudno Victoria station, the lower terminus of the Great Orme Tramway, is a 15-minute walk from the main station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colwyn Bay railway station</span> Railway station in Conwy, Wales

Colwyn Bay railway station is on the Crewe to Holyhead North Wales Coast Line serving the seaside town of Colwyn Bay in North Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhyl railway station</span> Railway station in Denbighshire, North Wales

Rhyl railway station is on the Crewe to Holyhead North Wales Coast Line and serves the holiday resort of Rhyl, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prestatyn railway station</span> Railway station in Denbighshire, Wales

Prestatyn railway station on the North Wales Coast Line serves the town of Prestatyn in North Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrexham General railway station</span> Railway station in Wrexham, Wales

Wrexham General is the main railway station serving the city of Wrexham, north-east Wales, and one of the two serving the city, alongside Wrexham Central. It is currently operated and mostly served by Transport for Wales, with some additional services provided by Avanti West Coast to London Euston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Holyhead</span> Ferry port in Anglesey, Wales

The Port of Holyhead is a commercial and ferry port in Anglesey, United Kingdom, handling more than 2 million passengers each year. It covers an area of 240 hectares, and is operated by Stena Line Ports Ltd. The port is the principal link for crossings from north Wales and central and northern England to Ireland. The port is partly on Holy Island and partly on Salt Island. It is made up of the Inner Harbour, the Outer Harbour and the New Harbour, all sheltered by the Holyhead Breakwater which, at 2.7 kilometres, is the longest in the UK.

References

  1. 1 2 Cadw. "Train Shed at Holyhead Station (14739)". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 122. ISBN   1-85260-508-1. R508.
  3. Cadw. "Clock Turret in Station Approach (14735)". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  4. Holyhead, 23 December 1980 www.2D53.co.uk; Retrieved 2013-08-05
  5. Freightliners to Holyhead 1971 - 1991 www.penmorfa.com; Retrieved 2013-08-05
  6. "1889-1897 Coaching". London and North Western Railway: 473. 1833. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  7. "Social and Personal" . Denbighshire Free Press. England. 17 November 1906. Retrieved 23 August 2021 via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Mr. Joseph Jones" . North Bucks Times and County Observer. England. 6 July 1912. Retrieved 23 August 2021 via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Stafford Station Master" . Staffordshire Sentinel. England. 22 June 1912. Retrieved 23 August 2021 via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Railway Official Retiring" . Belfast News-Letter. England. 30 April 1936. Retrieved 23 August 2021 via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "L.M.S.Appointments" . Nottingham Evening Post. England. 13 June 1942. Retrieved 23 August 2021 via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. Holyhead station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 14 March 2017
  13. GB eNRT May 2019 Edition, Table 81
  14. "Avanti West Coast Timetable 15 May 2022 - 11 September 2022" (PDF).

Further reading