Windermere railway station

Last updated

Location map United Kingdom South Lakeland.svg
Red pog.svg
Windermere
Location in South Lakeland
Cumbria UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Windermere
Location in Cumbria
Windermere
National Rail logo.svg
195129 Windermere.jpg
A Class 195 at the platform
General information
Location Windermere, Westmorland and Furness
England
Grid reference SD413986
Managed by Northern Trains
Platforms1
Other information
Station codeWDM
Classification DfT category E
History
Opened1847
Original company Kendal and Windermere Railway
Pre-grouping London and North Western Railway
Post-grouping
Key dates
20 April 1847Opened
1973Reduced to single track
Passengers
2019/20Increase2.svg 0.406 million
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Windermere railway station serves the town of Windermere, in Cumbria, England. It is the northern terminus of the Windermere Branch Line, which runs from Oxenholme. It is owned by Network Rail and is operated by Northern Trains, which provides all passenger train services.

Contents

It is located just south of the A591, about 25 min walk or a short bus ride from Lake Windermere. The station is located behind a former branch of the Booths supermarket chain, which occupies the site of the original station building, in front of the Lakeland store.

History

Windermere station in 1951 Windermere station, with train, 1951 (geograph 5078244).jpg
Windermere station in 1951

It is the terminus of the former Kendal and Windermere Railway. [1]

The Terrace, a row of cottages built for railway executives in 1849, is said to have been designed by the architect Augustus Pugin. One of the fireplaces is a copy of one of his in the Palace of Westminster. [2]

The selection of the town of Birthwaite as the location of the station serving the lake was what led to it taking the name Windermere, even though it is not on the water; nowadays, it has essentially grown together with Bowness-on-Windermere, which touches the lake.

The station was at one time bigger than at present, with four platforms and an overall roof. [3] Three tracks were taken out of use when the branch was reduced to a one-train operated single line in 1973 as an economy measure. The single track was cut back to a new truncated station in 1986, following the demolition of the train shed and the building of a Booths supermarket; this has been designed to mimic the appearance of the original train shed and incorporates the facade and canopy of the original station.

Facilities

The station has a staffed ticket office that is open throughout the week (06:00 to 20:45 on weekdays and Saturdays, 10:30 to 20:45 on Sundays); a self-service ticket machine is also provided for use outside these times and for collecting pre-paid tickets. A post box, toilets and a waiting room are available, along with cycle hire facilities and a pay phone. Running information is offered via digital CIS displays and timetable posters. Level access is available from the ticket office and station entrance to the platform. [4] Responsibility for operating the line passed from First TransPennine Express to Northern in April 2016. [5]

Services

A Class 195 diesel multiple unit awaiting departure for Oxenholme Lake District 195126 Windermere.jpg
A Class 195 diesel multiple unit awaiting departure for Oxenholme Lake District

Northern Trains operates a generally hourly service to Staveley, Burneside Kendal and Oxenholme Lake District, with some services extended to Manchester Airport. [6] .

Preceding station  National Rail logo.svg National Rail  Following station
Terminus Northern Trains
Terminus  Northern Connect
Windermere - Manchester Airport
  Staveley (limited service)
   Kendal

Bus services

The station is also a hub for Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire bus services connecting Windermere with Coniston, Grasmere, Keswick, Kendal and other destinations in Cumbria. [7] [8]

Stagecoach also runs regular buses through the town to the lake at Bowness-on-Windermere on the 599 route; these buses are open-top double-decker buses and run every 20 minutes in the summer. [9] The 597 minibus service links the station with the housing estates and health centre three mornings a week. [10]

References

Citations

  1. "Opening of the Kendal and Windermere Railway" . Westmorland Gazette. England. 24 April 1847. Retrieved 10 April 2016 via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. "A W N Pugin in Cumbria". Visit Cumbria. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  3. Vaughn, p.115
  4. "Windermere station facilities". National Rail Enquiries. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  5. Northern Rail Franchise Improvements - DfT Archived 11 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 16 December 2015
  6. "Timetables and engineering information for travel with Northern". Northern Railway. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  7. "Windermere Bus Rail Interchange (Stop 1)". Bustimes.org. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  8. "Windermere Bus Rail Interchange (Stop 2)". Bustimes.org. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  9. Lakes Connection Service 599 Summer 2016
  10. Windermere Town Service 597

Sources

54°22′48″N2°54′11″W / 54.380°N 2.903°W / 54.380; -2.903