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,Liverpool,Manchester 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 399 miles (642 km) and was opened from 1837 to 1869. 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,Liverpool,Manchester 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.
Stockport railway station serves the large 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.
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 to 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 large village of Penkridge in Staffordshire,England.
Uttoxeter railway station serves the town of Uttoxeter,Staffordshire,England. It is 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.
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 located on the outskirts 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 Trent Valley line is a railway line between Rugby and Stafford in England,forming part of the West Coast Main Line. The line is 51 miles (82 km) long and is named after the River Trent which it follows. It was built to provide a direct route from London to North West England and Scotland,avoiding the slower route via Birmingham,which is congested and 7.75 miles (12.47 km) longer.
The Stone to Colwich Line is a 11.7 miles (18.8 km) long railway line in Staffordshire which serves as a cut-off for West Coast Main Line services to Manchester Piccadilly. This route goes direct from Rugeley Trent Valley to Stoke-on-Trent,not going via Stafford.
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