Rail transport in Staffordshire

Rail transport in Staffordshire has a long history. Stafford itself is a major "crossroads" on the West Coast Main Line, handling passenger and freight services between London and Scotland along with traffic travelling between Manchester and Birmingham. Stoke-on-Trent was once a major railway centre, especially for traffic associated with the coal mining and pottery industries, but in recent years this traffic has almost completely disappeared.

History

* Grand Junction Railway (1833 - 1846)
* London and North Western Railway (1846 - 1922)
* North Staffordshire Railway (1845 - 1922) 220.75 miles (355 km)
* Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway (narrow gauge) (1904 - 1922) 8.25 miles (13 km)
* London, Midland and Scottish Railway (1923 - 1948)
* British Rail (1947 - 1997)
** London Midland Region (British Railways) (1948 - ?)
** Western Region of British Railways (1948 - 1963)
** Regional Railways (1981 - 1996)
** InterCity (British Rail) (1981 - 1997)

* Central Trains (1997 - todate)
* Northern Rail (2004 - todate)
* North Western Trains (1997 - 1998)
* First North Western (1998 - 2004)
* Virgin Cross-Country (1997 - todate)
* Virgin West Coast (1997 - todate)

The decline of the railways

Staffordshire's railways were considerably reduced by the Beeching Axe in the 1960s. The famous Loop Line along with several other routes were closed, while several stations, such as Uttoxeter, only narrowly missed closure. A considerable number of coal mines retained their railway connections, but with the decline of the industry, very few survive.

Stone, Barlaston, Norton Bridge and Wedgwood last saw rail services in 2003, but Stone may re-open in its own right due to heavy local campaigning. Etruria, no longer used by local workers, closed in 2005.

Current lines

*West Coast Main Line
*Chase Line
*Crewe to Derby Line

Closed lines

*Cheadle Branch Line
*Potteries Loop Line
*South Staffordshire Line
*Stafford and Uttoxeter Railway

Heritage railways

*Chasewater Railway
*Churnet Valley Railway
*Foxfield Light Railway
*Rudyard Lake Steam Railway

References

External links

* [http://www.search.exploringthepotteries.org.uk/engine/theme/default.asp?theme=272 Historic photographs of railways in North Staffordshire]