General information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location | Stafford, Borough of Stafford England | ||||
Coordinates | 52°48′13″N2°07′23″W / 52.80359°N 2.12307°W | ||||
Grid reference | SJ918229 | ||||
Managed by | Avanti West Coast | ||||
Platforms | 6 | ||||
Tracks | 7 | ||||
Other information | |||||
Station code | STA | ||||
Classification | DfT category C1 | ||||
History | |||||
Original company | Grand Junction Railway | ||||
Pre-grouping | London and North Western Railway | ||||
Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway | ||||
Key dates | |||||
4 July 1837 | Station opened | ||||
1844 | Rebuilt | ||||
1862 | Rebuilt | ||||
1962 | Current building opened | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2019/20 | 2.591 million | ||||
Interchange | 0.472 million | ||||
2020/21 | 0.574 million | ||||
Interchange | 56,156 | ||||
2021/22 | 1.811 million | ||||
Interchange | 0.212 million | ||||
2022/23 | 1.639 million | ||||
Interchange | 0.338 million | ||||
2023/24 | 2.029 million | ||||
Interchange | 0.569 million | ||||
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Stafford railway station is a major interchange railway station in Stafford,Staffordshire,England,and is the second busiest railway station in Staffordshire,after Stoke-on-Trent. The station serves the market and county town,as well as surrounding villages. The station lies on the junction of the Trent Valley line,the Birmingham Loop/Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line,and the West Coast Main Line.
Stafford station also formerly served the now defunct Stafford to Uttoxeter and Stafford–Shrewsbury lines.
The current brutalist station building was built in 1962,and is the fourth station to have existed on this site. The interior of the station was refurbished in 2015,which allowed the station to have a new WHSmith store and an improved ticket office.
The first station was built by the Grand Junction Railway and opened in July 1837 on the north side of Newport Road. [1] : 32 This soon proved to be inadequate,and was replaced in 1844 with a second station,designed by John Cunningham in an Elizabethan style. The station was rebuilt again on a larger scale in 1862,on a site to the north of the older ones,designed by the London and North Western Railway company architect WIlliam Baker in an Italian style. In 1866 a direct approach from the town centre was built,and the North Western Hotel (later the Station Hotel) was built opposite the station,this was demolished in 1972. [2]
The current Brutalist station was built in 1962,by the architect William Robert Headley,built as part of the modernisation programme which saw the electrification of the West Coast Main Line. [3] [4]
Lines originally built by the Stafford and Uttoxeter Railway and the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company (to Shrewsbury) also used the station. The Stafford to Uttoxeter line closed to passenger traffic in 1939, [5] with the Shrewsbury line closing as part of the Beeching Axe in 1964. [6]
Following the rebuilding of the station between 1961 and 1962,Isabel,a narrow gauge engine built by local firm WG Bagnall,stood on a plinth on the opposite side of Station Road,at the junction of Railway Street,until it was removed in the mid-1980s. It is now on the Amerton Railway. [7]
Two accidents have happened at Stafford since 1990:
There are five platforms in use at the station,all of which are accessible from either of the main lines that converge from the south. [10] Platform 1 is usually used for services to London Euston and platform 3 for Avanti northbound services via Crewe from the Trent Valley Line. Platform 4 is usually used for trains towards Birmingham New Street and the West of England. Platform 5 is usually used for CrossCountry services towards Manchester,London Northwestern Railway services towards Liverpool Lime Street and Avanti services to Preston extending to Blackpool or Scotland. Finally,platform 6 is usually used for trains starting/terminating towards/from London Euston,Birmingham New Street,Northampton,Stoke-on-Trent,Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street. [11]
The Stafford Area Improvements Programme improved the track layout around the station so that trains are no longer bound to a platform based upon direction of travel and trains can now use any platform,regardless of direction.
Platform 6 used to be the terminus of the Chase Line,however it now terminates at Rugeley Trent Valley. The platform is also sometimes used for railtours,hence why the platform is split into 'a' and 'b' sections.
The former bay platform 2 is no longer used by passenger trains. When Virgin Trains operated the InterCity West Coast franchise,platform 2 served as a stable for their Class 57 rescue locomotives;this role is now redundant. Occasionally,the bay platform stables other locomotives from freight operators.
The westernmost platform,unofficially known as platform 7,was formerly used by Royal Mail to load mail from the sorting office next door to the platform. This practice has since ended and now the westernmost platform has been converted into a single goods line,with bi-directional operation. This was completed during the bank holiday weekend of 29–31 August 2015. [12]
In October 2012,Network Rail began refurbishment works at the station due to the poor condition of some of the structures. The work included resurfacing the platforms (platforms 1 and 3 had been completed before the works),improving surface and roof drainage,renewing the opaque glazing on the footbridge,installing new canopy roof covers on the platforms and some structural work on the platform supports. [13]
In June 2015,Virgin Trains unveiled £1 million plans to refurbish the entrance,ticket hall and foyer. The work started in November in the same year and was anticipated to be completed within 20 weeks. These were completed March 2016. The changes saw the number of ticket machines at the station double,WHSmith relocation of the travel centre to the current ticket purchasing area and Starbucks took the place of Pumpkin CaféShop. The cafe was also shortened to allow an increased size of the waiting area. [14] [15]
Currently,the station has many facilities which are typical of those across the Avanti West Coast Network;this includes a ticket office,toilets,car park,coffee shop and newsagent.
The Stafford Area Improvements Programme by Network Rail aims to allow more trains to run and also aims to reduce journey times by removing key bottlenecks in the area around Stafford. [16]
The programme included large scale building works,north of Stafford station in Norton Bridge,Staffordshire,where a flyover was implemented to allow faster train services,and removed the need to slow down before entering the junction.
Other benefits of the programme,were the introduction of bi-directional signals at Stafford Station,which meant that trains can now use any platform,regardless of direction of travel.
The resignalling aspect of the programme was completed over the bank holiday weekend of 29–31 August 2015. All platforms now have bi-directional signalling,and the goods loop is now operational. [17]
The resignalling programme meant that Stafford signal boxes would be closed,and trains would be controlled from the Rugby Rail Operating Centre (ROC). The last train was signalled from Stafford in the early hours of 29 August 2015,and the first train was signalled from Rugby ROC on the morning of 1 September 2015. [18]
From the south,two branches of the West Coast Main Line meet here:the Trent Valley and the Birmingham lines. To the north,the trunk of the line continues towards Crewe,whilst the Manchester branch goes on to Stoke-on-Trent.
The station is currently served frequently by these operators:Avanti West Coast,CrossCountry and West Midlands Trains,under the London Northwestern railway brand. Usual off-peak services at Stafford follow a pattern such as the one below:
London Northwestern Railway:
CrossCountry: [24]
Other services which operate on a less regular basis are also present at Stafford,including other Avanti West Coast services (e.g. towards Liverpool).
London Northwestern Railway:
CrossCountry: [24]
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
CrossCountry | ||||
London Northwestern Railway London –Nuneaton –Crewe | ||||
London Northwestern Railway Birmingham –Liverpool | ||||
Terminus | London Northwestern Railway Stafford –Stoke –Crewe | |||
Avanti West Coast London –Manchester | ||||
Avanti West Coast London –Birmingham –Edinburgh/Glasgow/Blackpool | ||||
Avanti West Coast London –Chester –North Wales | ||||
Avanti West Coast London –Liverpool | ||||
Avanti West Coast London –Stoke –Crewe | ||||
Avanti West Coast London –Preston/Blackpool North | ||||
Disused railways | ||||
Terminus | Great Northern Railway Stafford and Uttoxeter Railway | |||
Terminus | London and North Western Railway |
There have been proposals to reintroduce services to terminate on the Chase Line,which was cutback to Rugeley Trent Valley in 2008,as well a significant increase in the frequency of local services under Midlands Rail Hub. [25]
The West Coast Main Line (WCML) is one of the most important railway corridors in the United Kingdom,connecting the major cities of London and Glasgow with branches to Birmingham,Manchester,Liverpool and Edinburgh. It is one of the busiest mixed-traffic railway routes in Europe,carrying a mixture of intercity rail,regional rail,commuter rail and rail freight traffic. The core route of the WCML runs from London to Glasgow for 400 miles (644 km) and was opened from 1837 to 1881. With additional lines deviating to Northampton,Birmingham,Manchester,Liverpool and Edinburgh,this totals a route mileage of 700 miles (1,127 km). The Glasgow–Edinburgh via Carstairs line connects the WCML to Edinburgh. However,the main London–Edinburgh route is the East Coast Main Line. Several sections of the WCML form part of the suburban railway systems in London,Coventry,Birmingham,Manchester,Liverpool and Glasgow,with many more smaller commuter stations,as well as providing links to more rural towns.
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.
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.
Rugby railway station serves the market town of Rugby in Warwickshire,England. The current station dates from 1885;two previous stations dating from 1838 and 1840 respectively,existed at locations to the west of the current one. It has been Rugby's only station,since the closure of the former Rugby Central station in 1969,on the now-abandoned Great Central Main Line route through the town. Between 1950 and 1970,the station was known as Rugby Midland before reverting to its original title. The station underwent an extensive remodelling between 2006 and 2008;new platforms were added and a new ticket office and entrance building were constructed. The original Victorian part of the station was retained in the upgrade.
Milton Keynes Central railway station serves Milton Keynes and surrounding parts of Bedfordshire,Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire (England). The station is located on the West Coast Main Line about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of London. The station is served by Avanti West Coast intercity services,and by West Midlands Trains regional services.
Coventry railway station is the main railway station serving the city of Coventry,West Midlands,England. The station is on the Birmingham loop of the West Coast Main Line (WCML);it is also located at the centre of a junction where the lines to Nuneaton and to Leamington converge. It is situated on the southern edge of the city-centre,just outside the Coventry ring road,about 250 yards to the south of junction 6.
Stockport railway station serves the large market and industrial town of Stockport in Greater Manchester,England. It is located 6 miles south-east of Manchester Piccadilly,on a spur of the West Coast Main Line to London Euston.
Walsall railway station is the principal railway station of Walsall,West Midlands,England and situated in the heart of the town. It is operated by West Midlands Trains,with services provided by West Midlands Railway. The main entrance is situated inside the Saddlers Shopping Centre.
Kidsgrove railway station serves the town of Kidsgrove in Staffordshire,England. The station is 7.5 miles (12.07 km) north of Stoke-on-Trent. The station is served by trains on the Crewe–Derby line which is also a community rail line known as the North Staffordshire line. The station is owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway.
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.
Lichfield Trent Valley is one of two railway stations that serve the city of Lichfield in Staffordshire,England;the other being Lichfield City in the city centre. It is a split-level station:low level platforms serve the Trent Valley section of the West Coast Main Line,with a single high level platform being the northern terminus of the Cross-City Line.
Stoke-on-Trent railway station is a mainline railway station serving the city of Stoke-on-Trent,on the Stafford to Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line. It also provides an interchange between local services running through Cheshire,Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
Wolverhampton station is a railway station in Wolverhampton,West Midlands,England on the Birmingham Loop of the West Coast Main Line. It is served by Avanti West Coast,CrossCountry,Transport for Wales and West Midlands Trains services,and was historically known as Wolverhampton High Level. It is also a West Midlands Metro tram stop.
Penkridge railway station is a railway station serving the village of Penkridge in Staffordshire,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.
Rugeley Trent Valley is a railway station serving the market town of Rugeley in Staffordshire,England. It is one of two stations serving Rugeley,the other being Rugeley Town. It is on the eastern side of the town close to the Rugeley Trent Valley Trading Estate and located close to the River Trent. West Midlands Trains operate the station,and all trains serving it.
Stone railway station serves the market town of Stone,Staffordshire,England. The station is located on a junction of the Colwich to Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line,but has platforms only on the branch from Stafford to Stoke-on-Trent.
The Stafford–Manchester line is a major railway line branching from the West Coast Main Line serving Stafford,Stone,Stoke-on-Trent,Kidsgrove,Congleton,Macclesfield,Cheadle Hulme,Stockport and Manchester.
Tame Bridge Parkway is a railway station in the north of the borough of Sandwell,in the West Midlands,England,close to the boundary with Walsall. The station is operated by West Midlands Railway. It is situated on the Chase Line 9 miles (14 km) north of Birmingham New Street,part of the former Grand Junction Railway,opened in 1837.
The Birmingham station group is a station group of three railway stations in Birmingham city centre,consisting of New Street,Moor Street,and Snow Hill. The station group is printed on national railway tickets as BIRMINGHAM STNS and does not include the airport station of Birmingham International,which is located some 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of the city centre next to Birmingham Airport and National Exhibition Centre.
Webb, Jonathan (2017). "Focus on Stafford". Today's Railways UK . No. 185. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. ISSN 1475-9713.