Farnborough (Main) railway station

Infobox UK station
name = Farnborough


manager = South West Trains
locale = Farnborough
borough = Rushmoor
code = FNB
usage0405 = 2.360
usage0506 = 2.413
usage0607 = 2.748
platforms = 2
start = 24 September 1838

Farnborough (Main) railway station serves the town of Farnborough in Hampshire, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by South West Trains. It is one of two stations serving Farnborough: the other, Farnborough North, is situated on the North Downs Line. The station is mostly known as Farnborough (Main) in order to distinguish it from Farnborough North, including by National Rail [ [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/FNB.html National Rail Enquiries - Station Information] ] and South West Trains [ [http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/TravelInformation/Stationinformation/default.htm?Station=FNB South West Trains - Station Information] ] , although often signposted as simply Farnborough.

The station is situated on the South Western Main Line, which has four tracks running through the station. There are two platforms on the outer pair of tracks, while the centre pair of tracks are used by fast trains.

History

Farnborough railway station was opened in 1838 by the London and South Western Railway (then the London and Southampton Railway), on the line from London to Winchfield (then Shapley Heath). The next year, the line was extended to Basingstoke, then the next year it was connected to Southampton. Throughout its life, Farnborough was a through station.

In 1849, South Eastern Railway built the North Downs Line, and opened a station also known as Farnborough, but it was not renamed as its existing name Farnborough North until 1923. The main line railway station was often known as Farnborough (Main) and this has become its official name. It is referred to as simply 'Farnborough' on platform and road signs, but National Rail and South West Trains officially use the suffix (though not on timetables). It was sometimes advertised as 'Farnborough for Aldershot' at an early stage.

As with Hook and Winchfield, there is a wide gap between the tracks. Originally, an island platform stood between them. When the railway was quadrupled, the new tracks were built to the south of the original station effectively leaving the old building on an island platform, so a new building was built to the south. The island platform was removed in the 1960s and the old buildings were demolished. It is possible to see the 'plugged' gap in the footbridge where stairs to this platform once led.

One source suggests that it may have been used by Queen Victoria to get to Windsor Castle, though the main station she used for Windsor was Slough until Windsor got its own station. [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = Chris Tolley| coauthors = | year = 2001 | url = http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cj.tolley/cjt-brhc.htm| title = Basingstoke's Railway History]

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