Congleton railway station

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


Plans for a railway station in Congleton were first announced by the North Staffordshire Railway on 30 April 1845. 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Biddulph Valley Line passenger services were withdrawn on 11 July 1927.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

In 1976 the station closed to goods services.

The station was one of the boundary stations for the short-lived Network NorthWest sector of British Rail.

The station has, in the past, been subjected to vandalism.

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

In early privatisation, Virgin CrossCountry served the station Monday to Saturday.

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

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".

In the past the station was maintained by Congleton in Bloom.

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

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.

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

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

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 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.

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.

Services
Off-peak service in trains per hour is:
 * 1 tph to Manchester Piccadilly via Macclesfield
 * 1 tph to Stoke-on-Trent

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.

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
 * Best Kept station Stoke-on-Trent Division 1984