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Congleton railway station

Coordinates: 53°09′29″N 2°11′35″W / 53.158°N 2.193°W / 53.158; -2.193
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Congleton
National Rail
Congleton 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]
Construction
Architectural stylePseude-Tudor (when built),[4]
Utilitarian (rebuild)[4]
Other information
Station codeCNG[5]
ClassificationDfT category E
History
Opened9 October 1848; 176 years ago (1848-10-09)[6][7]
Rebuilt1966; 59 years ago (1966)[8]
Electrified1967; 58 years ago (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11 July 1927Biddulph Valley Line passenger services withdrawn[10]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
2019/20Increase 0.333 million
2020/21Decrease 58,250
2021/22Increase 0.219 million
2022/23Increase 0.256 million
2023/24Increase 0.299 million
Location
Map
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Congleton railway station serves the market town of Congleton, in Cheshire, England. It lies on the Stafford-Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line.

History

[edit]
Congleton station, c1900s
The station in 1986

Plans for a railway station in the town were first announced by the North Staffordshire Railway on 30 April 1845.[19] Congleton was to be the terminus of a planned line to Colwich, via Burslem and Stoke-on-Trent; this route 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; the station opened on the same day.[6] There was only one sets of lines that had been built between Congleton and Harecastle; this meant that approaching trains had to receive a signal from the station master before entering.[20] Some North Staffordshire Railway through trains used the Potteries Loop Line.[21]

The North Staffordshire Railway ran a limited number of passenger trains Monday-Saturday between Congleton and Uttoxeter, calling at stations on the Potteries Loop line.[nb 2]

Congleton was the terminus for two routes:

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]

The station buildings were demolished and rebuilt in 1966, as part of the modernisation and electrification programme of the West Coast Main Line;[8] the signal box and level crossing were also removed.[25]

After the closure of the goods yard at Brunswick Wharf in Buglawton on 1 April 1968,[26][27] sand was delivered by train to the station instead.[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 stopped at Congleton as part of a visit to the town by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.[30]

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

It was one of the boundary stations for the short-lived Network NorthWest sector of British Rail.[31]

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

Former services

[edit]

The station was previously served by the following:

Accidents and incidents

[edit]
  • On 27 December 1864, there was a collision between a London and North Western Railway goods engine and van with a North Staffordshire Railway passenger train at Congleton junction, where the Biddulph Valley line joined the Stafford-Manchester line.[37]
  • On 17 February 1899, there was a collision of two trains.[38]
  • On 19 January 2006, a Virgin CrossCountry Voyager train caught fire at Congleton.[39]

Facilities

[edit]
A low flat-roofed building with cars parked outside
Entrance to the station in 2010

The station has a staffed ticket office which is open on weekdays 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 chargeable car park and bicycle storage available. Step-free access is available to both of the platforms.[40]

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

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; the idea of a park and ride service has also been raised.[41][42]

Services

[edit]

Northern Trains operates hourly services in each direction between Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly. There are six rail replacement bus services each way on Sundays.[43][44]

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

[edit]

Congleton has often been recognised as one of the best-kept stations on the Stoke to Manchester line; it was maintained by Congleton in Bloom.[45]

It won the Best Kept Station award in the Stoke-on-Trent division in 1983 and 1984.[46]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Hourly service Monday-Saturday, 12 services on a Sunday
  2. ^ Extract from Public timetable July to September 1899[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c Jeuda, Basil (11 July 2010). The North Staffordshire Railway in LMS Days Volume 1. Lydney: Lightmore Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-1899889488.
  4. ^ a b Alcock, Joan P (15 March 2014). Congleton Though Time. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. p. 74. ISBN 978-1445609768.
  5. ^ "Congleton (CNG) station information". National Rail Enquiries. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c Jeuda, Basil (1 May 1996). THE KNOTTY An Illustrated Survey of the North Staffordshire Railway. Lydney: Lightmoor Press. p. 42. ISBN 1899889019.
  8. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d "Activities and Information About the Biddulph Valley Way". cheshireeast.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  11. ^ a b 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. ^ "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. ^ a b "Covid-19 Timetable Changes". CrossCountry. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  15. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Avery, Tom (6 July 2020). "Congleton MP requests confirmation that town's CrossCountry 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. ^ a b "History of the Churnet Valley Railway in NSR Days". churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Train station's 175th birthday". Congleton Chronicle. 2 November 2023. p. 31.
  21. ^ Allan. C Baker (July 2000). 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 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". 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 (317). Luton: Transport Ticket Society: 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. ^ a b "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. ^ 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.
  38. ^ Report on the collision at Congleton station on 17th February 1899 North Staffordshire Railway. Board of Trade. 1899.
  39. ^ "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.
  40. ^ "Congleton station information". Northern Trains. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  41. ^ "Wheels are set in motion on town's new transport plans". Congleton Chronicle. 30 June 2022. p. 27.
  42. ^ 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.
  43. ^ "N19 - Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent via Macclesfield | Train times | 10 December 2023 to 1 June 2024" (PDF). Northern Trains. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  44. ^ "North West Sunday timetable update | Northern". www.northernrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  45. ^ "Town's train station needs some Friends". Congleton Chronicle. 21 April 2022. p. 23.
  46. ^ "Station wins prize for second year". Congleton Chronicle. 3 February 1984. p. 17.
[edit]
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53°09′29″N 2°11′35″W / 53.158°N 2.193°W / 53.158; -2.193

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