Congleton railway station

File:Congleton Station, old photo.png

File:Congleton Station - geograph.org.uk - 1824470.jpg

Plans for a railway station in Congleton were first announced by the North Staffordshire Railway on 30 April 1845.{{cite web|title=History of the Churnet Valley Railway in NSR Days|url=https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/cvr-history|access-date=2022-02-06|website=churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk}} 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.{{Cite news |date=2 November 2023 |title=Train station's 175th birthday |page=31 |newspaper=Congleton Chronicle}}

Some North Staffordshire Railway through trains from Congleton railway station used the Potteries Loop Line.{{cite book|author=Allan. C Baker|title=An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways|date=July 2000 |publisher=Irwell Press|isbn=1-903266-11-4|page=37}}

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.{{refn|Extract from Public timetable July to September 1899{{Cite book|last=Barker|first= Allan C. |title=The POTTERIES LOOP LINE An Illustrated History|publisher=Trent Valley Publications|date=1 November 1987|isbn= 0948131209|location=Burton-On-Trent|page=72}}|group=nb}}

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.{{Cite book|last=Barker|first= Allan C. |title=The POTTERIES LOOP LINE An Illustrated History|publisher=Trent Valley Publications|date=1 November 1987|isbn=0948131209|location=Burton-On-Trent|page=101}}

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Biddulph Valley Line passenger services were withdrawn on 11 July 1927.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.{{Cite book|last=Jeuda|first=Basil|title=The North Staffordshire Railway in LMS Days Volume 3|publisher=Lightmore Press|date=20 April 2014|isbn=9781899889839|location=Lydney|page=45}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Virtual Exhibition – Lost Buildings of Congleton |url=https://www.congletonmuseum.co.uk/lost-buildings-of-congleton/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123144105/https://www.congletonmuseum.co.uk/lost-buildings-of-congleton/ |archive-date=23 January 2021 |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Congleton Museum}}

With the closure of the goods yard Brunswick Wharf in Buglawton on 1 April 1968{{Cite web|title=Activities and Information About the Biddulph Valley Way|url=https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/leisure,_culture_and_tourism/ranger_service/countryside_sites/biddulph_valley_way/activities_and_information.aspx|access-date=2021-12-26|website=cheshireeast.gov.uk}}{{Cite web|title=Biddulph Valley Way Explorer including Dane-in-Shaw Pasture & Timbersbrook Picnic Area|url=https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/pdf/ranger-service/countryside-sites/biddulph_valley_way_leaflet_web_ready.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923003319/https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/pdf/ranger-service/countryside-sites/biddulph_valley_way_leaflet_web_ready.pdf|archive-date=23 September 2021|access-date=26 December 2021|website=cheshireeast.gov.uk|page=7}} sand was brought to Congleton via Congleton railway station.{{Cite news |date=15 March 1968 |title=Wharf Closes |pages=10 |newspaper=Congleton Chronicle}}

Under British Railways Congleton was served by many special services from Stoke-on-Trent via the Potteries Loop line.{{Cite book|last=Barker|first= Allan C. |title=The POTTERIES LOOP LINE An Illustrated History|publisher=Trent Valley Publications|date=1 November 1987|isbn=0948131209|location=Burton-On-Trent|page=107}}

In 1972 the Royal train stopped at Congleton railway station as part of a visit to Congleton by of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.{{Cite news |date=5 May 1972 |title=Thrilling start to Royal tour with 'meet the people' stroll |page=Front page |newspaper=Evening Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/868115615/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 June 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}

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.{{cite journal|date=June 1990|title=British Rail News: Network NorthWest|journal=Journal of the Transport Ticket Society|issue=317|page=265|location=Luton|publisher=Transport Ticket Society|issn=0144-347X}}

The station has, in the past, been subjected to vandalism.{{Cite news|date=24 March 2000|title=HELP US BEAT THE YOBS|newspaper=Warrington Guardian|url=https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/5296749.help-us-beat-the-yobs/|url-status=live|access-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203175717/https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/5296749.help-us-beat-the-yobs/|archive-date=3 December 2021}}{{Cite news|date=5 January 2001|title=VANDALISM IS THE WORST IT HAS BEEN FOR 18 YEARS|newspaper=Warrington Guardian|url=https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/5289232.vandalism-is-the-worst-it-has-been-for-18-years/|url-status=live|access-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706221930/https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/5289232.vandalism-is-the-worst-it-has-been-for-18-years/|archive-date=6 July 2020}}{{Cite Hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |title= Railways(Vandalism) |url= https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2006-07-11/debates/06071145000020/Railways(Vandalism)?highlight=congleton%20train%20station#contribution-06071145000102 |house=House of Commons of the United Kingdom |date=11 July 2006 |speaker=Ann Winterton |position=Member of Parliament for Congleton }}

In the past the station was served by trains to London, these services had stopped calling at Congleton by 1996.{{Cite news |date=27 June 1996 |title=RADICAL REVAMP FOR RUN DOWN STATION |newspaper=Warrington Guardian |url=https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/5327294.radical-revamp-for-run-down-station/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316180050/https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/5327294.radical-revamp-for-run-down-station/ |archive-date=16 March 2022}}

In early privatisation, Virgin CrossCountry served the station Monday to Saturday.{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |house=House of Lords of the United Kingdom |date=11 December 2003 |column=WA90 |speaker=Lord Bradshaw |position=Life Peer}}

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".{{Cite news |date=21 April 2022 |title=Town's train station needs some Friends |pages=23 |newspaper=Congleton Chronicle}}

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.

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.{{Cite book |title=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 |publisher=Eyre & Spottiswoode |year=1864 |pages=75–77}}

On 17 February 1899 there was a collision at Congleton railway station.{{Cite book |title=Report on the Collision at Congleton Station on 17th February 1899 North Staffordshire Railway |publisher=Board of Trade |year=1899}}

On 19 January 2006 a Virgin CrossCountry Voyager train caught fire at Congleton railway station.{{Cite web |date=April 2006 |title=Virgin Trains Cross Country news |url=https://virgin.com/img/aboutus/downloads/CrossCountry%20News%20April%2006.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926224803/http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/img/aboutus/downloads/CrossCountry%20News%20April%2006.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2006 |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Virgin.com |page=4 }}

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.{{cite web |title=Congleton station information |url=https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/stations/congleton |access-date=26 February 2021 |website=Northern Trains}}

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.{{Cite news |date=30 June 2022 |title=Wheels are set in motion on town's new transport plans |page=27 |newspaper=Congleton Chronicle}}{{Cite book |date=May 2022 |title=Congleton Transport Development Plan |url=https://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/documents/s95402/Appendix%20B%20-%20Congleton%20LTDP.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701213650/https://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/documents/s95402/Appendix%20B%20-%20Congleton%20LTDP.pdf |archive-date=1 July 2022 |access-date=1 July 2022 |publisher=Cheshire East Council|page=31 |format=PDF}}

File:Entrance to Congleton Station © Jonathan Kington.jpg

Off-peak service in trains per hour is:{{NRtimes|December 2022|84}}

• 1 tph to {{stnlnk|Manchester Piccadilly}} via {{stnlnk|Macclesfield}}
• 1 tph to {{stnlnk|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.

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{{s-rail-national|rowsmid=2|rows2=2|previous=Stoke-on-Trent|note=Limited Service|next=Macclesfield|toc=Northern Trains|route=Stafford–Manchester line}}

{{s-rail-national|hidemid=yes|hide2=yes|previous=Kidsgrove|next=Macclesfield|toc=Northern Trains|route=Stoke to Manchester Line}}

{{s-note|text=Previous services}}

{{s-rail-national|previous=Stoke-on-Trent|next=Stockport|toc=CrossCountry|route=Cross Country Route|notemid=Peak Hours Only Monday-Saturday Only}}

{{s-rail|title=Historical}}

{{s-rail-national|previous=North Rode|next= Mow Cop and Scholar Green |route=Stafford–Manchester line|status=Historical|toc=NSR|note=Line open station closed |note2=Line open station closed}}

{{s-rail|title=Disused Railways}}

{{s-rail-national|previous= |next= Mossley Halt |route=Biddulph Valley line|status=Disused|toc=NSR

|note2=Line and station closed}}

{{s-rail-national|previous= Macclesfield Central |note=Line and station open |next= Mow Cop and Scholar Green |route=Potteries Loop Line
(Through Trains Only)|status=Disused|toc=NSR

|note2=Line and station closed}}

{{s-rail-national|previous= |next= Mow Cop and Scholar Green |route=Potteries Loop Line
(Limited service Monday-Saturday Only)|status=Disused|toc=NSR

|note2=Line and station closed}}

{{s-rail-national|previous= |note=Line and station open |next= Mow Cop and Scholar Green |route=Potteries Loop Line|status=Disused|toc=LMS

|note2=Line and station closed}}

{{s-rail-national|previous= |next= Biddulph |route=Biddulph Valley line|status=Disused|toc=LMS

|note2=Line and station closed}}

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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{{Cite news |date=3 February 1984 |title=Station wins prize for second year |page=17 |newspaper=Congleton Chronicle}}
• Best Kept station Stoke-on-Trent Division 1984

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{{commons category|Congleton railway station}}

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• [http://nsrly.blogspot.com North Staffordshire Railway]

{{Railway stations served by Northern Trains}}

{{Cheshire railway stations}}

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Category:Railway stations in Cheshire

Category:Former North Staffordshire Railway stations

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1848

Category:Railway stations served by Northern

Category:Stations on the West Coast Main Line

Category:DfT Category E stations

Category:Congleton