Skelmersdale railway station

Last updated

Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale railway station.jpg
General information
Location Skelmersdale, West Lancashire
England
Coordinates 53°33′02″N2°48′38″W / 53.5506°N 2.8105°W / 53.5506; -2.8105
Grid reference SD464063
Line(s) Skelmersdale branch
Platforms2 [1]
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original company East Lancashire Railway
Pre-grouping Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Post-grouping London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
1 March 1858Opened as Blaguegate
1 August 1874Renamed Skelmersdale
5 November 1956Closed (passenger services)
4 November 1963Closed (all services)

Skelmersdale railway station was a station located on the Skelmersdale branch at Skelmersdale, England. The station was originally named Blague Gate, having its name changed to Skelmersdale on 8 August 1874 and carried passengers from 1858 to 1956. [2]

Contents

History

A 1908 Railway Clearing House Junction Diagram showing (lower right) railways in the vicinity of Skelmersdale Hartford, Northwich and Rainford RJD 92.jpg
A 1908 Railway Clearing House Junction Diagram showing (lower right) railways in the vicinity of Skelmersdale

The station was one of several built by the East Lancashire Railway on their branch line from Ormskirk to Rainford Junction. It opened on 1 March 1858, but after a year became part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway system when the ELR was taken over by that company. The station consisted of two platforms with the main building on the northbound side. A wooden signal box was provided to control the adjacent level crossing, passing loop and nearby goods yard. The line towards Ormskirk was subsequently doubled in 1875, the year after the station was renamed.

Throughout its life the route operated as a self-contained branch, though connections were available for Preston, Liverpool & Blackpool at Ormskirk and for St Helens Central, Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Victoria at Rainford. The service was also generous, with the L&Y running a steam railmotor service of 19 trains per day in each direction from 1906. A similar pattern continued after the route became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in January 1923, but increasing road competition after World War II and the subsequent nationalisation of the railways in 1948 saw traffic levels decline.

The station was closed to passenger traffic by the British Transport Commission on 5 November 1956, [3] with the line south to Rainford closing completely on 16 November 1961 and the rest on 4 November 1963, when goods traffic at the station ceased. [4] The track was lifted in 1968 and station was demolished soon afterwards; the B5312 road (known as Railway Road) now passes through the site.

Ironically this was done just as the town was undergoing a significant increase in population levels and associated housing development, having been designated as one of the second wave of new towns in 1961 (it was chosen, along with Runcorn as an overspill town for Liverpool).

Reopening proposals

Skelmersdale has been described as the largest town in North-West England that doesn't have a railway station, [5] although Leigh, Greater Manchester, which also has no station is larger. [6] There have been many discussions about reopening a railway station in Skelmersdale. This would require a three-mile rail restoration. [7] In January 2009, the Liverpool Echo newspaper reported that recommendations have been put to councillors to endorse the £60m plan to build a new railway station in Skelmersdale, reconnecting the town with Liverpool. [8]

2009

In June 2009, the Association of Train Operating Companies, in its Expanding Access to the Rail Network report, called for funding for the reopening of this station as part of a £500m scheme to open 33 stations on 14 lines closed in the Beeching Axe, including seven new parkway stations. [9] The report proposes extending the line from Ormskirk by laying 3 miles of new single track along the previous route to the town, at a cost estimated to be in the region of £31million. The route is largely intact, though a deviation north of Westhead would be required. The proposed station would be on the north west corner of town near the Skelmersdale Ring Road, right next to where the old station once was. [10] A feasibility study on the project jointly funded by Merseytravel, Merseyrail, Lancashire County Council & West Lancs Borough Council was due to begin in the autumn of 2013. [11]

2015

Lancashire County Council approved the initiation of a more detailed evaluation on 1 June 2015. [12] This option selection process will take the project to completing Network Rail's GRIP stage 3 level of development in January 2017. [12] [13] The evaluation is to be developed in partnership with Network Rail and Merseytravel. [13] Network Rail has suggested a construction date commencing in April 2021, with services beginning from December 2023, [13] once the single option development and detailed design stages in the GRIP process have been achieved. The likely route for the new link is southwards to join the Kirkby branch line between Upholland and Rainford rather than the original plans to go north via Ormskirk, so as to enable trains to travel to Wigan & Manchester as well as to Liverpool. [12]

2017

In February 2017, Lancashire County Council confirmed that the preferred site for Skelmersdale railway station was the former site of Glenburn Sports College/Westbank Campus. [14] County Council Transport portfolio holder John Fillis said that the site "is big enough to provide a high quality station with scope to expand to meet future demand.". [15] By September, Merseytravel announced that they would be committing £765,000 to the study into the reopening, estimating that the station could be open within a decade with a lot of additional funding. Merseytravel's plan would also see a new station built at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby. It has been proposed a new station at Skelmersdale would act as the terminus for Merseyrail's Northern Line, with connections available to Wigan and Manchester. Initial estimates suggest that the scheme could cost around £300 million to develop. [16] On page 36 of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Long Term Rail Strategy document of October 2017, it states that Merseytravel is currently working with Lancashire County Council and Network Rail to develop a plan to extend the Merseyrail network from Kirkby through to Skelmersdale, with work completed in 2019. They are considering 3rd rail electrification and other alternatives with a new station at Headbolt Lane to serve the Northwood area of Kirkby. The document on page 37 states two trials of electric 3rd rail/battery trains were planned to be undertaken in 2020, as one of the "alternatives". [17]

2019

Lancashire County Council approved a plan in May 2019 to commission an outline business case into reopening the station which will be presented to the government. [18]

2021

Merseytravel confirmed in March 2021 that talks continue between themselves, Lancashire County Council and other partners about Skelmersdale railway station, in the context of additional funding being made available about Headbolt Lane railway station further along the Kirkby branch. [19]

On November 2, West Lancashire Borough Council were asked to contribute £43,000 with Lancashire County Council's £245,900 towards the Skelmersdale Regeneration Plan, which would include new shops, the railway station, and other benefits. [20]

2022

Government reinforces that the station proposals are being considered. Rosie Cooper calls for the new Rail Minister to visit Skelmersdale, in order to aid the DfT's decision. [21] However, the Department for Transport announced in July 2022 that it was rejecting the Strategic Outline Business Case, throwing the scheme into doubt. [22] The DfT instead suggested that better bus links with the Kirkby–Wigan rail line would be a cheaper way of improving connectivity for Skelmersdale.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merseyrail</span> Commuter rail network in England

Merseyrail is a commuter rail network serving the Liverpool City Region and adjacent areas of Cheshire and Lancashire. Merseyrail operates 66 railway stations across two lines – the Northern Line and the Wirral Line, which are dedicated 750 V DC third rail electrified lines converging into rapid transit-style underground sections in the centres of Liverpool and Birkenhead. Merseyrail branding is also applied to stations and ticketing on the City Line, which are within the Liverpool City Region but operated by other train operating companies, predominantly Northern Trains. The City Line services operate on the Liverpool to Manchester Lines and the Liverpool to Wigan Line using a mix of AC electric and diesel trains.

Merseytravel is the passenger transport executive, responsible for the coordination of public transport in the Liverpool City Region in North West England. Merseytravel was established on 1 December 1969 as the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive. From 1 April 2014, with the creation of the Liverpool City Region, Merseytravel expanded its area of operation from the metropolitan county of Merseyside to also include the Borough of Halton.

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

Liverpool Central railway station in Liverpool, England, forms a central hub of the Merseyrail network, being on both the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. The station is located underground on two levels, below the site of a former mainline terminus. It is the busiest station in Liverpool, though considerably smaller than Lime Street station, the mainline terminus, and the busiest station to operate solely on the Merseyrail network. The station is the busiest underground station outside London serving 40,000 people daily. The station in passengers per platform is the busiest underground railway station in the United Kingdom at 5,217,547 per platform per annum and laying third in all stations, underground or overground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool and Bury Railway</span> Railway line in England

The Liverpool and Bury Railway was formed in 1845 and opened on 28 November 1848. The line ran from Liverpool Exchange first using a joint line with Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway before branching off to proceed via Kirkby then Wigan and Bolton to Bury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burscough Junction railway station</span>

Burscough Junction pronounced is one of two railway stations serving the town of Burscough in Lancashire, England. It is sited on the Ormskirk Branch Line, 2+1⁄2 miles (4.0 km) north of Ormskirk and is served by Northern Trains. The station was the scene of the Burscough Junction Station Crash in 1880.

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

Ormskirk railway station in Ormskirk, Lancashire, England, is a cross-platform interchange between Merseyrail services from Liverpool Central and Northern Trains services from Preston on the Ormskirk branch line, 12+3⁄4 miles (20.5 km) northeast of Liverpool. The station building and three arch road bridge are both Grade II listed structures.

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

Upholland railway station serves the small town of Up Holland in the southern Lancashire/Wigan boundary area of England. It is on the Kirkby branch line from Wigan Wallgate and means the service runs through three counties on its journey from Wigan to Kirkby.

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

Sandhills railway station is a railway station in Kirkdale, Liverpool, England, located to the north of the city centre on the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network. It was built by the Liverpool, Crosby and Southport Railway Company and now stands at the junction between the branch to Southport and the branch to Ormskirk and Kirkby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern line (Merseyrail)</span> Line part of the Merseyrail network

The Merseyrail Northern line is a cross-city railway running from Hunts Cross in south Liverpool then to termini in the north at Southport (Merseyside), Ormskirk (Lancashire) and Kirkby (Merseyside). It and the Wirral Line are commuter rail services operated by Merseyrail, serving Merseyside. A third line, the City Line, is not owned or operated by Merseyrail, although stations inside Merseytravel's area are branded as Merseyrail. All three lines are funded by Merseytravel.

The Skelmersdale branch was a standard gauge railway (SKE) which connected the Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway at Ormskirk with Rainford Junction via Skelmersdale. At Rainford it connected with the Liverpool and Bury Railway and the St. Helens Railway. It was built by the East Lancashire Railway, which was taken over by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway shortly afterward. The steam railmotor which served the line was sometimes known locally as the "Skem Dodger" and other times as the "Skem Jazzer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirkby railway station</span> Station in Merseyside, England

Kirkby railway station is situated in Kirkby, Merseyside, England. The station is an interchange between Merseyrail services from Liverpool Central and Northern services from Manchester Victoria via Wigan Wallgate. It is situated 7.5 miles (12 km) north-east of Liverpool Central and is the operational terminus of both the Kirkby branch of Merseyrail's Northern Line and the Kirkby Branch Line from Wigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burscough Bridge railway station</span> Railway station in Burscough, Lancashire, England

Burscough Bridge railway station is one of two railway stations which serves the town of Burscough in Lancashire, England. It is on the Manchester-Southport Line. It is operated and managed by Northern Trains. A bus interchange has recently been constructed next to the station, including a shop and cafe. The station has been identified by Merseytravel as a possible interchange between the Liverpool to Ormskirk line and the Southport to Wigan line in its Liverpool City Region Long Term Rail Strategy.

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

Rainford railway station is situated to the north of the village of Rainford, Merseyside, England. It is on the Kirkby branch line. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aintree railway station</span> Railway station on the Ormskirk Branch of the Northern Line in Liverpool, England

Aintree railway station is a railway station that serves the village of Aintree, Merseyside, England. It is on the Ormskirk branch of the Merseyrail network's Northern Line. Until 1968 it was known as Aintree Sefton Arms after a nearby public house. The station's design reflects that it is the closest station to Aintree Racecourse, where the annual Grand National horse race takes place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirkby branch line</span> Railway line in the North West of England

The Kirkby Branch Line is a branch railway line from Wigan to Kirkby. The line's original route was from Liverpool to Bury and later the most northern of the Liverpool to Manchester lines. The line was split at Kirkby in 1977 with the western section forming a high frequency branch of the electrified Merseyrail Northern Line, also referred to as the Kirkby branch line. The Kirkby branch to Wigan remained a low frequency diesel operated service by Northern Trains from Kirkby to Manchester.

Headbolt Lane is a future railway station in the Towerhill/Northwood area of Kirkby in Merseyside, North West England. The opening of a station in the area has been an objective of the local authority since 1972 and detailed plans have been under development since at least 2013. Planning permission was granted in December 2021, with construction due to commence in January 2022. It was anticipated that the station will open in Spring 2023, and was later delayed to the summer, and after no opening in July 2023, it is expected to open later in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skelmersdale</span> Town in England

Skelmersdale is a town in the West Lancashire district, in Lancashire, England, on the River Tawd, 6 miles (10 km) west of Wigan, 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Liverpool and 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Preston. In 2006, it had a population of 38,813. The town is known locally as Skem.

Liverpool in North West England, is a major British city with significant road, rail, and ferry networks, in addition to an international airport and a well-known dock system. As with most other major UK cities, Liverpool's transport infrastructure is centred on its road and rail networks. Public transport services within the city are controlled and run by Merseytravel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 777</span> Merseyrail electric multiple unit trains

The British Rail Class 777 METRO is a class of electric multiple unit passenger trains currently under construction by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail, being used on the Merseyrail network in the Liverpool City Region and adjacent areas of Cheshire and Lancashire. Ordered in 2016, construction of the units began in 2018. The first unit entered service on 23 January 2023, following delays to the deployment programme. The Class 777 will replace Merseyrail's current Class 507 and Class 508 units, which were built between 1978 and 1980. Seven units of the total 53 ordered are being configured as battery electric multiple units (BEMUs) for use on non-electrified lines, and will be designated subclass 777/1.

References

  1. ↑ James 2004, p. 32.
  2. ↑ Ackerley, Dave. "The coming of the railway". Skelmersdale Heritage Society. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
  3. ↑ Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 213. ISBN   978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC   60251199. OL   11956311M.
  4. ↑ "Disused Stations – Skelmersdale". Disused Stations. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "A station back in Skelmersdale". railfuture. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Census 2011: Population and Household Estimates for Wards (PDF), Wigan Council , retrieved 19 May 2016
  7. ↑ "House of Commons – Transport – Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence". parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
  8. ↑ "£40m rail link plans are backed". Liverpool Echo. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  9. ↑ "England – Operators call for new rail lines". BBC News. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  10. ↑ "Connecting Communities – Expanding Access to the Rail Network" (PDF). London: Association of Train Operating Companies. June 2009. p. 20. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Skelmersdale railway feasibility study". Ormskirk & Skelmersdale Advertiser. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  12. 1 2 3 "Skelmersdale railway plans on the right track". Southport Visiter. June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 "Skelmersdale link moves towards GRIP3". RAIL . Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  14. ↑ Preferred Site Identified for Skelmersdale Railway Station Lancashire County Council
  15. ↑ Preferred site identified for Skelmersdale railway station Southport Visiter
  16. ↑ Houghton, Alistair (18 September 2017). "Skelmersdale rail link moves step closer as £5m funding revealed". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  17. ↑ Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (24 October 2017). "Long Term Rail Strategy – update" (PDF). merseytravel.uk.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2017.
  18. ↑ Faulkner, Paul (17 May 2019). "Plans for Skelmersdale train station move one step closer". Lancs Live. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  19. ↑ Major funding boost for Headbolt Lane station scheme in Kirkby Merseytravel
  20. ↑ Macdonald, Robert (2 November 2021). "Skelmersdale plan could include new shops, station and green spaces". LancsLive. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  21. ↑ Barre, Claire (6 April 2022). "Crunch talks over Skem train station bid as calls intensify for approval". LancsLive. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  22. ↑ Lopez, Jamie (8 July 2022). "Skelmersdale rail station plan rejected in decision branded a 'cruel joke'". LancsLive. Retrieved 17 July 2022.

Sources

Preceding station Disused railways Following station
Westhead Halt
Line and station closed		  Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Skelmersdale branch 		  White Moss Level Crossing Halt
Line and station closed
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.