Congleton
National Rail
Congleton railway station in 2023
General information
LocationCongleton, Cheshire East
England
Grid referenceSJ872623
Owned byNetwork Rail
Managed byNorthern Trains
Line(s)Stafford-Manchester
PlatformsFormerly 3[1][2]
[3]
2 in use[1][2]
Train operatorsNorthern Trains[nb 1]
Bus routes94 Congleton to Newcastle-under-Lyme[nb 2]
Construction
Architectural stylePseude-Tudor (When built)[4]
Utilitarian (Rebuild)[4]
Other information
Station codeCNG[5]
ClassificationDfT category E
History
Opened9 October 1848 (1848-10-09)[6][7]
Rebuilt1966 (1966)[8]
Electrified1967 (1967)[2]
Original companyNorth Staffordshire Railway[2]
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway[9]
Key dates
1870Signal box built[7]
1 June 1864Biddulph Valley Line passenger services commenced[10]
1892Footbridge erected[7]
11 July 1927Biddulph Valley Line passenger services withdrawn[10]
1930Third platform added[3]
1976Closed to Goods[11]
2004Refurbished[1][12]
December 2008Hourly service Monday-Saturday introduced[13]
2018Booking hall refurbished[1]
6 July 2020CrossCountry services suspended[14][15][16]
2021Footbridge refurbished[1][17][18]
Passengers
2018/19Decrease 0.314 million
2019/20Increase 0.333 million
2020/21Decrease 58,250
2021/22Increase 0.219 million
2022/23Increase 0.256 million
Location
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Congleton railway station is a mainline station serving the Cheshire market town of Congleton. It lies on the Stafford-Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line in the United Kingdom.

History

Congleton railway station c 1900s
Congleton railway station in 1986.

Plans for a railway station in Congleton were first announced by the North Staffordshire Railway on 30 April 1845.[19] Congleton railway station was to be the terminus of a planned line from Congleton to Colwich via Burslem and Stoke-on-Trent, this planned line was to be called The Pottery Line.[19]

The Stafford-Manchester line from Stoke-on-Trent to Congleton was opened on 9 October 1848 by the North Staffordshire Railway, with Congleton railway station opening on the same day.[6]

When the station opened there was only one sets of lines that had been built between Congleton railway station and Harecastle railway station, this ment that trains approaching Congleton railway station had to receive a signal from the station master before entering Congleton railway station.[20]

Some North Staffordshire Railway through trains from Congleton railway station used the Potteries Loop Line.[21]

The North Staffordshire Railway ran a limited number of passager trains Monday-Saturday from Congleton railway station to Uttoxeter railway station and back calling at stations on the Potteries Loop line.[nb 3]

Congleton railway station was the terminus for some London Midland and Scottish Railway passenger trains on the northern end of the Potteries Loop Line between Tunstall and Stoke on Trent.[23]

Congleton railway station was the northern terminus for passenger trains on the Biddulph Valley Line.[10]

Biddulph Valley Line passenger services were withdrawn on 11 July 1927.[10]

Despite the withdrawal of Biddulph Valley line passenger services, the London Midland and Scottish Railway ran special services on the Biddulph Valley line at the start of August each year.[24]

In 1930 a third platform was added by the Nestle's Anglo Condensed Milk Company due to the importance of milk to economy of Congleton.[3]

Congleton railway station was rebuilt in 1966.[8] As part of the rebuild the station buildings were demolished and rebuilt, the level crossing was removed and the signal box was demolished.[25]

With the closure of the goods yard Brunswick Wharf in Buglawton on 1 April 1968[26][27] sand was brought to Congleton via Congleton railway station.[28]

Under British Railways Congleton was served by many special services from Stoke on Trent via the Potteries Loop line.[29]

In 1972 the Royal train stoped at Congleton railway station as part of a visit to Congleton by of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.[30]

In 1976 the station closed to goods services.[11]

The station was one of the boundary stations for the shortlived Network NorthWest sector of British Rail.[31]

The station has, in the past, been subjected to vandalism.[32][33][34]

In the past the station was served by trains to London, these services had stopped calling at Congleton by 1996.[35]

In early privatisation, Virgin CrossCountry served the station Monday to Saturday.[2][36]

In December 2008 Congleton railway station gained an hourly service between Manchester Piccadilly and Stoke-on-Trent Monday-Saturday.[13]

In the past Congleton railway station was one of the best-kept stations on the Stoke to Manchester via Macclesfield line, this was "thanks to the staff who worked at the station".[37]

In the past the station was maintained by Congleton In Bloom.[37]

Until 6 June 2020 CrossCountry operated a number of limited peak-hour services between Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and Bournemouth.[14][15][16]

Accidents and incidents

On 27 December 1864 there was a collision between a London and North Western Railway goods engine and van and a North Staffordshire Railway passenger train at Congleton junction where the Biddulph Valley line joined the Stafford-Manchester line.[38]

On 17 February 1899 there was a collision at Congleton railway station.[39]

On 19 January 2006 a Virgin CrossCountry Voyager train caught fire at Congleton railway station.[40]

Facilities

The station has a staffed ticket office which is open during weekday and Saturday mornings with two self-service ticket machines available for ticket purchases at other times as well as modern help points on both platforms.

There is a waiting room on the southbound platform[33] however this is boarded up and closed to the public.

The station has a chargeable car park and bicycle storage available. Step-free access is available to both the platforms at Congleton.[41]

As part of the Congleton Transport Development Plan Cheshire East Council has proposed improving the quality of the station buildings and the cycling and parking facilities at Congleton railway station.[42][43]

Services

A low flat-roofed building with cars parked outside
Entrance to Congleton railway station in 2010

Off-peak service in trains per hour is:[44]

On Sundays, there is a reduced service of six trains in each direction throughout the day. This was increased from five each way in December 2018.

As part of the Congleton Transport Development Plan Cheshire East Council has proposed setting up a park and ride and improving rail services at Congleton railway station.[42][43]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Limited Service
Northern Trains
  Previous services  
CrossCountry
Peak Hours Only Monday-Saturday Only
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station
Line open station closed
North Staffordshire Railway
Line open station closed
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
TerminusNorth Staffordshire Railway
Line and station closed
Line and station open
North Staffordshire Railway
Potteries Loop Line
(Through Trains Only)
Line and station closed
TerminusNorth Staffordshire Railway
Potteries Loop Line
(Limited service Monday-Saturday Only)
Line and station closed
TerminusLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
Line and station closed
TerminusLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
Line and station closed

Best Kept Station

Below is a list of years in which Congleton railway station has won a best kept station award.

  • Best Kept station Stoke-on-Trent Division 1983[45]
  • Best Kept station Stoke-on-Trent Division 1984[45]

Notes

  1. ↑ Hourly service Monday-Saturday, 6 services on a Sunday
  2. ↑ Monday to Friday and towards Newcastle only
  3. ↑ Extract from Public timetable July to September 1899[22]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Greensmith, Alex (17 November 2021). "VIDEO: Congleton Train Station passenger footbridge reopens after refurbishment". Congleton Nub News. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Paul Shannon & John Hillmer (2003). British Railways Past and Present no 40 Cheshire. Kettering: Past & Present Publishing Ltd. p. 101. ISBN 1-85895-232-8.
  3. 1 2 3 Jeuda, Basil (11 July 2010). The North Staffordshire Railway In the LMS Days Volume 1. Lydney: Lightmore Press. p. 41. ISBN 1899889485.
  4. 1 2 Alcock, Joan P (15 March 2014). Congleton Though Time. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. p. 74. ISBN 1445609762.
  5. ↑ "National Rail Enquiries - Station facilities for Congleton". www.nationalrail.co.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  6. 1 2 Quick, Michael. Railway Passenger Stations in Great Britain (PDF). Railway and Canal Historical Society. p. 141. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 Jeuda, Basil (1 May 1996). THE KNOTTY An Illustrated Survey Of The North Staffordshire Railway. Lydney: Lightmoor Press. p. 42. ISBN 1899889019.
  8. 1 2 Alcock, Joan P. (30 June 2003). History and Guide Congleton. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 103. ISBN 0752429469.
  9. ↑ "Extracts from the Chronicle Files "50 years ago"". Glancing Back. Congleton Chronicle. 11 November 2021. p. 6.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Activities and Information About the Biddulph Valley Way". www.cheshireeast.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  11. 1 2 Hartless, Adrian (April 2019). "3.Eturia to Congleton". Lines North of Stoke to Crewe, Congleton and Leek. Midhurst: Middleton Press. ISBN 9781910356296. XXXIV.The goods station remained open until the end of 1976 and the warehouse was used afterwards as a permanent way store.
  12. ↑ "NETWORK RAIL'S STATION CHALLENGE PROJECT". Network Rail. 14 June 2004. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  13. 1 2 "CELEBRATING CONGLETON'S NEW HOURLY RAIL SERVICE". Northern Rail. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Covid-19 Timetable Changes". CrossCountry. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  15. 1 2 Avery, Tom (20 July 2020). "Letter: CrossCountry decision will "significantly impact" Congleton's rail service". Congleton Nub News. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  16. 1 2 Avery, Tom (6 July 2020). "Congleton MP requests confirmation that town's Cross Country service will be reinstated". Congleton Nub News. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  17. ↑ "Refurbished Congleton station footbridge reopens for passengers". Network Rail. 16 November 2021. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  18. ↑ "Footbridge steps out after £320k upgrade". Congleton Chronicle. 2 December 2021. p. 28.
  19. 1 2 "History of the Churnet Valley Railway in NSR Days". www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  20. ↑ "Train station's 175th birthday". Congleton Chronicle. 2 November 2023. p. 31.
  21. ↑ Allan. C Baker. An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways. Irwell Press. p. 37. ISBN 1-903266-11-4.
  22. ↑ Barker, Allan C. (1 November 1987). The POTTERIES LOOP LINE An Illustrated History. Burton-On-Trent: Trent Valley Publications. p. 72. ISBN 0948131209.
  23. ↑ Barker, Allan C. (1 November 1987). The POTTERIES LOOP LINE An Illustrated History. Burton-On-Trent: Trent Valley Publications. p. 101. ISBN 0948131209.
  24. ↑ Jeuda, Basil (20 April 2014). The North Staffordshire Railway In the LMS Days Volume 3. Lydney: Lightmore Press. p. 45. ISBN 9781899889839.
  25. ↑ "Virtual Exhibition - Lost Buildings of Congleton". Congleton Museum. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  26. ↑ "Activities and Information About the Biddulph Valley Way". www.cheshireeast.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  27. ↑ "Biddulph Valley Way Explorer including Dane-in-Shaw Pasture & Timbersbrook Picnic Area" (PDF). cheshireeast.gov.uk. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  28. ↑ "Wharf Closes". Congleton Chronicle. 15 March 1968. p. 10.
  29. ↑ Barker, Allan C. (1 November 1987). The POTTERIES LOOP LINE An Illustrated History. Burton-On-Trent: Trent Valley Publications. p. 107. ISBN 0948131209.
  30. ↑ "Thrilling start to Royal tour with 'meet the people' stroll". Evening Sentinel. 5 May 1972. p. Front page. Retrieved 25 June 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "British Rail News: Network NorthWest". Journal of the Transport Ticket Society. Luton: Transport Ticket Society (317): 265. June 1990. ISSN 0144-347X.
  32. ↑ "HELP US BEAT THE YOBS". Warrington Guardian. 24 March 2000. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  33. 1 2 "VANDALISM IS THE WORST IT HAS BEEN FOR 18 YEARS". Warrington Guardian. 5 January 2001. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  34. ↑ Ann Winterton, Member of Parliament for Congleton (11 July 2006). "Railways(Vandalism)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
  35. ↑ "RADICAL REVAMP FOR RUN DOWN STATION". Warrington Guardian. 27 June 1996. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  36. ↑ Lord Bradshaw, Life Peer (11 December 2003). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Lords of the United Kingdom. col. WA90.
  37. 1 2 "Town's train station needs some Friends". Congleton Chronicle. 21 April 2022. p. 23.
  38. ↑ Report of the Inspecting Officers of the Railway Department to the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council for Trade upon certain accidents which have occurred on Tye Railways. Eyre & Spottiswoode. 1864. pp. 75–77.
  39. ↑ Report on the Collision at Congleton Station on 17th February 1899 North Staffordshire Railway. Board of Trade. 1899.
  40. ↑ "Virgin Trains Cross Country news" (PDF). Virgin.com. April 2006. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  41. ↑ "Congleton station information". Northern Trains. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  42. 1 2 "Wheels are set in motion on town's new transport plans". Congleton Chronicle. 30 June 2022. p. 27.
  43. 1 2 Congleton Transport Development Plan (PDF). Cheshire East Council. May 2022. p. 31. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  44. ↑ Table 84 National Rail timetable, December 2022
  45. 1 2 "Station wins prize for second year". Congleton Chronicle. 3 February 1984. p. 17.
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