General information | |||||
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Location | Wrexham, Wrexham Wales | ||||
Coordinates | 53°02′46″N2°59′58″W / 53.0462°N 2.9994°W | ||||
Grid reference | SJ333502 | ||||
Managed by | Transport for Wales | ||||
Platforms | 1 | ||||
Other information | |||||
Station code | WXC | ||||
Classification | DfT category F1 | ||||
History | |||||
Original company | Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway | ||||
Pre-grouping | Great Central Railway | ||||
Post-grouping | London and North Eastern Railway | ||||
Key dates | |||||
1 November 1887 | Original station opened | ||||
2 November 1895 | Route to Ellesmere opened | ||||
10 September 1962 | Route to Ellesmere closed | ||||
23 November 1998 | Station resited | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2019/20 | 73,484 | ||||
2020/21 | 3,636 | ||||
2021/22 | 13,194 | ||||
2022/23 | 41,806 | ||||
2023/24 | 42,268 | ||||
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Wrexham Central railway station (Welsh :Wrecsam Canolog) is the smaller of two railway stations serving the central area of Wrexham in Wales,the other being Wrexham General. The platform can accommodate a three car diesel train,but has room for platform extension. It is the southern terminus of the Borderlands Line,also known as the Wrexham-Bidston line,which links north-east Wales to Merseyside.
The current station was constructed in 1998 within a retail park in Wrexham city centre known as Island Green. It replaced the first Central station,opened on 1 November 1887,which was a larger station located around 275 yards (250 metres) to the east. The older station closed on 23 November 1998 and the site was cleared as part of the retail development.
The Wrexham,Mold and Connah's Quay Railway (WMCQ) had opened between Wrexham Exchange and Buckley (old station) on 1 May 1866. [1] A southern extension to a station better situated for the centre of Wrexham was authorised on 18 August 1882; [2] work did not begin until January 1887,and it was opened on 1 November the same year. [3] Wrexham Central was a large station,with a marshalling yard and goods depot accompanying it. The station clock was provided and maintained free of charge by a local watchmaker named Pierce. [3] It was a terminus for several years until the Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway (W&ER) was opened on 2 November 1895. [3] The W&ER was built with financial assistance of the WMCQ and the Cambrian Railways,and operated by the latter,which it joined at Ellesmere.
The line of the former W&ER was closed to passengers on 10 September 1962, [4] and Wrexham Central almost met a similar fate (it was listed for closure in the Beeching Report of 1963). [5] As Wrexham was undergoing population growth at the time and protests against the proposal were widespread,it was decided to retain it due to being conveniently close to the city centre. The station became unstaffed from 7 February 1972 [6] and it was reduced to a single track station in August 1973, [7] with a small concrete shelter and an adjacent stabling siding. Part of the old W&ER remained in use for freight as far as Abenbury Sidings until final closure in May 1981. [5]
The goods depot and marshalling yard were used until 7 December 1964, [8] after which they were reduced to a large car park and railway club. The station and goods yard had a 56-lever signal box,which was used until 19 August 1973. [8]
In 1998,a large shopping centre was to be built on the entire area,and the station was moved west by 400 yards (370 metres). [9] The local rail users group tried to prevent this,but failed. They did however get a large station building constructed,compared to the prefabricated open concrete shelter it replaced,and the new station was opened on 23 November 1998. [9] One of the conditions the Rail Users group gave on the relocation was that if needed,space be left for future doubling of the track and a second platform,which was complied with. [10]
There are possibilities that Wrexham Central may become electrified,as part of electrification of the entire Borderlands line. Network Rail mentioned this as a possible future development for the route in its 2007 Business Plan for the area, [11] but further progress is dependent on a favourable business case being put forward and funding secured. [12] [13]
The station is unstaffed and the main building is no longer in use. However a self-service ticket machine is available on the platform,asking with a self-help point,electronic departure displays and automated PA system. The station adjoins a pay-and-display car park within the Island Green shopping centre,however three free spaces are provided for railway passengers.
At privatisation,the station became managed by North Western Trains,later known as First North Western. A review in 2003 led to the station being briefly operated by Wales &Borders,before Arriva Trains Wales from late 2003,and Transport for Wales from 2018.
The station has an hourly service to Shotton and Bidston on Monday to Saturday daytimes,dropping to two-hourly in the evenings and on Sundays and bank holidays. From December 2021,it was expected the service would improve to two trains per hour using Class 230 fully refurbished metro trains with battery assistance (hybrid). [14] [15] [16]
Alighting at Bidston allows for connections to the Merseyrail Wirral line,with westbound services to West Kirby and eastbound services to Liverpool via Birkenhead,both quarter-hourly during the day and half-hourly during the evenings and early mornings.
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Wrexham General | Transport for Wales Borderlands Line | Terminus | ||
Disused railways | ||||
Terminus | Cambrian Railways Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway | Hightown Halt Line and station closed |
Bidston railway station serves the village of Bidston,Merseyside,England. The station is situated at a junction of the West Kirby branch of the Wirral line,which is part of the Merseyrail network;it also serves as the northern terminus for the Borderlands line from Wrexham Central,with services operated by Transport for Wales.
The Borderlands line,also known as the Bidston–Wrexham or Wrexham–Bidston line,is a railway line between Bidston on the Wirral Peninsula in England and Wrexham Central in the north-east of Wales. Passenger train services are part of the Wales &Borders franchise and are operated by Transport for Wales Rail. The line connects to the Merseyrail network at Bidston,the North Wales Coast Line at Shotton and the Shrewsbury–Chester line at Wrexham General. Parts of the line in Wales are used by freight trains,serving Deeside Industrial Park and the Hanson Cement works to the south of Buckley.
New Brighton railway station serves the suburb of New Brighton in Wallasey,Merseyside,England. It is situated at the end of the New Brighton branch of the Wirral Line 8.25 miles (13.28 km) west of Liverpool Lime Street on the Merseyrail network.
Birkenhead North railway station serves the town of Birkenhead,in Merseyside,England. The station is situated on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network,close to the junction of the New Brighton and West Kirby branches. Birkenhead North TMD,situated just to the west of the station,is the main traction maintenance depot for the Merseyrail fleet.
Shotton railway station serves the towns of Shotton and Connah's Quay,Flintshire,Wales. It is situated where the Borderlands Line crosses the North Wales Coast Line. All passenger services are operated by Transport for Wales,which manages the station.
Hawarden Bridge railway station is a railway station near Shotton,Flintshire,Wales. It is situated on the Borderlands line 13 miles (21 km) north of Wrexham Central,on the north side of Hawarden Bridge over the River Dee. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Transport for Wales.
Llanfairfechan railway station serves the town of Llanfairfechan,Wales,and is located on the Crewe to Holyhead North Wales Coast Line 51+1⁄4 miles (82.5 km) west of Chester.
Rhyl railway station is on the Crewe to Holyhead North Wales Coast Line and serves the holiday resort of Rhyl,Wales.
Wrexham General is the main railway station serving the city of Wrexham,north-east Wales,and one of the two serving the city,alongside Wrexham Central. It is currently operated and mostly served by Transport for Wales,with some additional services provided by Avanti West Coast to London Euston.
Upton railway station serves the village of Upton and the Noctorum area of Birkenhead,on the Wirral Peninsula,England. The station is situated on the Borderlands line. Transport for Wales operates the station and all trains serving it.
Heswall railway station is a railway station on the eastern edge of the town of Heswall on the Wirral Peninsula in England. It is on the Borderlands Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Transport for Wales. In 2008 the station was refurbished. The station was previously known as Heswall Hills,as there was previously another station serving Heswall,on the Birkenhead Railway's branch line from West Kirby to Hooton,that is now a footpath known as the Wirral Way.
Ruabon railway station is a combined rail and bus interchange serving Ruabon,Wrexham County Borough,Wales. It is the second busiest station in Wrexham County Borough in terms of passenger journeys,after the mainline station,Wrexham General. It is on the Shrewsbury to Chester Line,which is part of the former Great Western Railway mainline route from London Paddington to Birkenhead Woodside which lasted until 1967.
Neston railway station serves the town of Neston,Cheshire,England. It is the southernmost station on the English part of the Borderlands Line before it reaches Wales. The station is 8¾ miles (14 km) south of Bidston.
Hawarden railway station serves the village of Hawarden in Flintshire,Wales. It is situated on the Borderlands Line 10½ miles (17 km) north of Wrexham Central and all passenger services are operated by Transport for Wales. The station is unstaffed.
Buckley railway station serves the town of Buckley in Flintshire,Wales. The station is 8½ miles (14 km) north of Wrexham Central on the Borderlands Line.
Penyffordd railway station serves the village of Penyffordd in Flintshire,Wales. The station is 7¼ miles (12 km) north of Wrexham Central on the Borderlands Line.
Hope railway station serves the village of Hope in Flintshire,Wales. The station is 5+1⁄4 miles (8.4 km) north of Wrexham Central on the Borderlands Line. The name of the station in Welsh is Yr Hôb.
Caergwrle railway station serves the village of Caergwrle in Flintshire,Wales. The station is 4¾ miles (7 km) north of Wrexham Central on the Borderlands Line.
Cefn-y-bedd railway station serves the village of Cefn-y-bedd in Flintshire,Wales. The station is 4 miles (6 km) north of Wrexham Central on the Borderlands Line. It was opened in 1866 by the Wrexham,Mold and Connah's Quay Railway,which later became part of the Great Central Railway system.
Gwersyllt railway station serves the area of Gwersyllt in the city of Wrexham in North Wales. It is one of five stations in the Wrexham County Borough.