Ampthill railway station
Encyclopedia
This article is about the former Midland Railway
station in Bedfordshire. For the similarly named Ampthill (Marston) station see the article on Millbrook (Bedfordshire) railway station
Ampthill railway station was built over a mile from the town of Ampthill
in the English
county of Bedfordshire
by the Midland Railway
in 1868 on its extension to St. Pancras
.
, it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
during the Grouping of 1923
. After passing on to the London Midland Region of British Railways
upon nationalisation
in 1948, it was then closed by the British Transport Commission
.
At the time it was built there were no coaching connections, so for a number of years it was particularly beneficial in providing an outlet for the trade in straw hats, Ampthill's speciality being the "Narrow Improved" version. It closed in 1959 and the inhabitants were advised to use the "excellent alternative bus service."
About half a mile north of the station is Ampthill Tunnel
, increased to three bores when the line was upgraded to four tracks in 1891.
, electrified through the former station, still pass the site.
The Bedfordshire Railway & Transport Association is campaigning for the reopening of a station at Ampthill.
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
station in Bedfordshire. For the similarly named Ampthill (Marston) station see the article on Millbrook (Bedfordshire) railway station
Millbrook (Bedfordshire) railway station
Millbrook railway station serves the villages of Millbrook and Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, England. It is on the Marston Vale Line, between Stewartby and Lidlington...
Ampthill railway station was built over a mile from the town of Ampthill
Ampthill
Ampthill is a small town and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, between Bedford and Luton, with a population of about 6,000. It is administered by Central Bedfordshire Council. A regular market has taken place on Thursdays for centuries.-History:...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
by the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
in 1868 on its extension to St. Pancras
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
.
History
Opened by the Midland RailwayMidland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
, it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
during the Grouping of 1923
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
. After passing on to the London Midland Region of British Railways
London Midland Region of British Railways
The London Midland Region was one of the six regions created on the formation of the nationalised British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway lines in England and Wales. The region was managed first from buildings adjacent to Euston Station and later from Stanier...
upon nationalisation
Transport Act 1947
The Transport Act 1947 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Under it the railways, long-distance road haulage and various other types of transport were acquired by the state and handed over to a new British Transport Commission for operation...
in 1948, it was then closed by the British Transport Commission
British Transport Commission
The British Transport Commission was created by Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain...
.
At the time it was built there were no coaching connections, so for a number of years it was particularly beneficial in providing an outlet for the trade in straw hats, Ampthill's speciality being the "Narrow Improved" version. It closed in 1959 and the inhabitants were advised to use the "excellent alternative bus service."
About half a mile north of the station is Ampthill Tunnel
Ampthill Tunnel
Ampthill tunnel is a railway tunnel on the London Midland region between Bedford and Flitwick. There are two bores; one carrying a pair of fast lines, the other a pair of slow lines. Both are 715 yards long....
, increased to three bores when the line was upgraded to four tracks in 1891.
Present and future
Trains on the Midland Main LineMidland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
, electrified through the former station, still pass the site.
The Bedfordshire Railway & Transport Association is campaigning for the reopening of a station at Ampthill.