Carnforth railway station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Carnforth | |||
 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Location | |||
| Place | Carnforth | ||
| Local authority | Lancaster | ||
| Operations | |||
| Managed by | Transpennine Express | ||
| Platforms in use | 2 | ||
| Annual Rail Passenger Usage | |||
| 2004/05 * | 0.150 million | ||
| 2005/06 * | 0.157 million | ||
| National Rail - UK railway stations | |||
| * Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Carnforth from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. | |||
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Carnforth railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Carnforth in Lancashire. The building was designed by architect William Tite and was famously used as the location in the 1945 film Brief Encounter. It is now operated by TransPennine Express.
[edit] History
Carnforth station was opened in 1846 by the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway Company (LCRC). It originally had a single platform and was a second-class station. It became a junction in 1857 when it was adjoined to the Ulverston and Lancaster Railway as its terminus. Soon afterwards, the Furness Railway began operating to Carnforth.
The station was enlarged during the 1870s and in 1880 was able to receive trains from the Midland Railway. Meanwhile, the LCRC had been taken over by the London and North Western Railway Company (LNWR) and Carnforth was under joint management by Furmess, Midland and LNWR. Station personnel wore a uniform with the initials CJS for Carnforth: Joint Station.
A major rebuilding project, including a new 300 yard platform, took place in 1938 with government funding.
Brief Encounter was filmed there in February 1945. The station clock became a powerful icon through repeated use in the film.
The main line platforms were closed in the 1960s and Carnforth became a branch line.
After lying in a semi-derelict state for many years the railway station buildings were rejuvenated between 2000 and 2003.
There is now a visitor centre as well as the "Brief Encounter" Refreshment Room, a number of shops and a travel/ticket office.
[edit] Operators
Carnforth is served by two train operators.
- TransPennine Express operate regional express services from Manchester Airport to Barrow-in-Furness via the Furness Line.
- Northern Rail operate local services along the Furness Line to Barrow-in-Furness, and the Airedale Line to Skipton. Some services continue beyond Barrow to Sellafield or Carlisle via the Cumbrian Coast Line. Northern Rail services are operated using diesel multiple units of Classes 142, 144; very occasionally Classes 150, 153, 156 and 158 make an appearance. Carnforth is also the headquarters of the West Coast Railway Company.
The edges of the through platforms that served the West Coast Main Line have been demolished and bartered back making them no longer usable.
[edit] External links
- Train times and station information for Carnforth railway station from National Rail
- An extensive website about Carnforth Railway Station
| Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | TransPennine Express TransPennine North West |
Silverdale | ||
| Lancaster | Northern Rail Furness Line |
Silverdale | ||
| Wennington | Northern Rail Airedale Line |
Lancaster | ||
