Southport railway station

Infobox UK station
name = Southport


manager = Merseyrail
locale = Southport
borough = Sefton
code = SOP
pte = Merseytravel
zone = D1
usage0405 = 1.550
usage0506 = 1.582
usage0607 = 1.669
platforms = 6
years = August 22, 1851
events = Opened (as Southport Chapel Street)

Southport railway station serves the town of Southport, Merseyside, England. It is at the end of one of the branches of the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network, and at the end of the Manchester-Southport Line which runs via Wigan. The station and services to Liverpool and Hunts Cross are run by Merseyrail, and Manchester services are operated by Northern Rail.

History

The Liverpool line was originally built in 1848 by the Liverpool, Crosby and Southport Railway to a temporary station at Eastbank Street, about half a mile short of the current terminus. The current station opened as Southport Chapel Street on August 22, 1851, and became the terminus for all trains from Wigan in 1857, when passenger services were transferred from the adjacent stnlnk|Southport London Street. [Gell, Rob (1986). "An Illustrated Survey of Railway Stations Between Southport & Liverpool 1848-1986". Heyday Publishing Company, ISBN 0-947562-04-4.]

From 1882 the West Lancashire Railway to Preston Fishergate Hill operated from Southport Derby Road (later known as Southport Central) outside Chapel Street Station.

In 1884, another line from Southport to Liverpool was opened: the Cheshire Lines Committee's (CLC) North Liverpool Extension Line from Liverpool Central to Southport Lord Street. The West Lancashire Railway sponsored the Liverpool, Southport and Preston Junction Railway to provide a connection to the CLC line, joining it at stnlnk|Altcar and Hillhouse. These lines ultimately proved uncompetitive, however, and the Southport services were withdrawn in January 1952 [Marshall, J (1981). "Forgotten Railways: North West England". David & Charles (Publishers) Ltd, Newton Abbott. ISBN 0 7153 8003 6; p 80] ..

In July 1897, both the West Lancashire and the Liverpool, Southport and Preston Junction Railways were absorbed into the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&Y). The L&Y had a large terminus at Southport Chapel Street and could see no sense in operating two termini at very close proximity. On 1 May 1901 the L&Y completed a remodelling of the approach lines to Southport Central to allow trains to divert onto the Manchester to Southport line and into Southport Chapel Street Station. Southport Central was closed to passengers and it became a goods depot eventually amalgamating with Chapel Street depot. It survived intact well into the 1970s.

The Preston line was closed to passengers on 7 September 1964 [Marshall, J (1981). "Forgotten Railways: North West England". David & Charles (Publishers) Ltd, Newton Abbott. ISBN 0 7153 8003 6; p.152] , although a small section to Hesketh Park station was used for freight until 1967. This line lost its steam services on one day, followed by the electric service to Crossens the following day, being the only line to ever lose two services on consecutive days. Nowadays, the towns of Southport and Preston are linked only by the (largely dual-carriageway) A565 and A59 roads.

At its largest, Chapel Street station had eleven regular platforms and two excursion platforms.Now six truncated platforms are in use (platforms 1-3 for Liverpool trains & 4-6 for Manchester), the rest having been demolished to form a car park. In the 1970s the former terminal building was replaced with a shopping centre.

Layout and amenities

The main entrance to this staffed station is located on the newly-pedestrianised Chapel Street - one of Southport's main shopping areas. The car park immediately next to the station is reserved for taxis and staff only, but a large pay car park further along London Street is available for general public use. [ [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sop/details.html#Current_Station_Information Station facilities at Southport station] , National Rail. Retrieved 9 June, 2008.]

A new M to Go shop opened in 2007 and includes the new ticket office inside. The station itself recently underwent a £3.5m renovation project which included a renewed roof, new lighting, glazed screens, floor tiles and toilets plus a retail unit. [ [http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=3412&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=5 "Station transformation well under way"] , Network Rail, November 6, 2007. Retrieved on May 8, 2008.]

Services

Mondays-Saturdays

4tph to Hunts Cross via Liverpool Central.

1tph to Rochdale via Atherton and Manchester Victoria.

1tph to Manchester Airport via Bolton and Manchester Piccadilly.

2tpd to Buxton.

Sundays

(Summer) 4tph to Liverpool Central with 2tph extended to Hunts Cross. (Winter) 2tph to Hunts Cross.

1tph to Alderley Edge via Bolton, Manchester Piccadilly & Stockport.

References

External links

* [http://www.merseyrail.org/stations/?iStationId=60 Station information] from Merseyrail
* [http://www.southportpast.com/altcarbob.shtml 'Altcar Bob' at southport.gb.com]

rail line
next=Birkdale
previous=
route=Merseyrail
Northern Line
col=0000FFrail line
next=Meols Cop
Burscough Bridge on Sundays
previous=
route=Northern Rail
Manchester-Southport Line
col=8b00ffrail line
previous=
next=rly stn|St Luke's
route=Manchester and Southport Railway
col=964B00rail line
previous=
next=rly stn|St Luke's
route=West Lancashire Railway
col=964B00rail line
previous=
next=rly stn|St Luke's
route=Liverpool, Southport and
Preston Junction Railway
col=964B00
###@@@KEYEND@@@###