Whaley Bridge railway station

16+1⁄4 miles (26.2 km) south east of Manchester Piccadilly.

Opened on 9 June 1857, ^[1] the station was originally on the Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway, built by the London and North Western Railway to connect with the Cromford and High Peak Railway and extended to Buxton in 1863. Until 1983, the station had an active signal box and served as a terminus for some trains to/from Manchester.

The station is unusual for the line in that its platform one, where the main station building and ticket office is sited, is on the side for trains bound for Buxton, whereas platform two serves trains to Manchester. The platform is on a tight curve and was some 30 cm too low for the height of the carriages used, making it difficult to access for people with mobility problems. The problem was addressed by Network Rail in 2012, who rebuilt the Buxton platform and installed an Easy Access ramp on the Manchester-bound side. ^[2]

The station enjoys the support of the local community in the form of Friends of Whaley Bridge Station, a voluntary group dedicated to improving and maintaining the station buildings and grounds.

Facilities

The ticket office is staffed six days per week (Mondays to Saturdays) from early morning until early afternoon (06:50 - 13:25). At other times, tickets must be purchased prior to travel or on the train. There is a waiting room in the main building (open when the booking office is staffed) and canopies to offer a covered waiting area at all times; platform two has a waiting shelter. Train running information is provided via help points on each platform, digital CIS displays, timetable posters and automated announcements. ^[3]

Service

On weekdays from 06:18 to 18:17, there are generally two trains an hour to Manchester Piccadilly. Thereafter, trains are hourly until 23:16.

On Sundays, there is one train an hour in each direction between 08:31 and 23:29. ^[4]

References

1. Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 247. ISBN   1-85260-508-1. R508.
2. "Whaley Bridge Station and Schedule of Works" Whaleybridge.com; Retrieved 19 May 2017
3. Whaley Bridge Station Facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 19 May 2017
4. Table 86 National Rail timetable, December 2018

External links

• Train times and station information for Whaley Bridge railway station from National Rail
• Photos of the station and Buxton Line in the early 1980s

Whaley Bridge
General information
Location	Whaley Bridge, High Peak England
Coordinates	53°19′48″N1°59′06″W / 53.33°N 1.985°W / 53.33; -1.985 Coordinates: 53°19′48″N1°59′06″W / 53.33°N 1.985°W / 53.33; -1.985
Grid reference	SK011815
Managed by	Northern
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	WBR
Classification	DfT category E
History
Original company	Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway
Pre-grouping	London and North Western Railway
Post-grouping	London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
9 June 1857	Station opened
Passengers
2017/18	0.137 million

Preceding station		National Rail		Following station
Chapel-en-le-Frith		Northern Buxton line		Furness Vale
	Disused railways
Terminus		London and North Western Railway Cromford and High Peak Railway		Shallcross