South Wigston railway station

Infobox UK station
name = South Wigston
code = SWS

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caption = South Wigston railway station in 2006
manager = East Midlands Trains
locale = South Wigston
borough = Oadby and Wigston
lowusage0506 = 35,812
lowusage0607 = 37,576
platforms = 2
start =

South Wigston railway station serves the suburb of South Wigston near Leicester, England The station is located on the Birmingham to Peterborough Line 3 km (1¾ miles) south of Leicester station.

The first station was built by the Midland Counties Railway in 1840 on its line to Rugby. The present station was built in 1986. Only selected trains running between Birmingham and Leicester stop here.

The station is unmanned so passengers have to purchase their tickets on the train. Facilities on the platform consist of two "bus shelter" like canopies to protect passengers against the weather and a time-table notice board.

History

Wigston is the point where the Midland Railway diverted its line in 1857 to Rugby, building a new line to Hitchin (and later to St.Pancras).

At this point the London and North Western Railway line from Blaby and Nuneaton, which had its own station Glen Parva, joined the Midland in a northerly direction. The station on the old Midland Counties Railway line was renamed Wigston South, while a new station Wigston Magna was built on the main line slightly south of the junction. In 1860 the Midland acquired running powers on the Nuneaton line, which was later extended to Whitacre Junction, and a south curve was added in 1872. All of these stations closed in 1968 to be replaced by the present South Wigston situated on the North Curve of the triangular junction.

In its heyday, Wigston was an important interchange point with a large sidings and wagon repair shop. A locomotive shed was added in 1873. This closed in 1934 but was reopened during World War II while Leicester shed was being rebuilt and then stayed open until 1955.

ervices

There is a service to Leicester (northbound) and a service to Birmingham New Street (southbound). Usually each direction is served every two hours. There is also an occasional service on the Birmingham to Cambridge and Stansted Airport route although most pass through South Wigston station but at a lower speed to Narborough and Hinckley due to the busy junctions nearby.