Burnley Central railway station
Encyclopedia
Burnley Central railway station is a station in the town of Burnley
, Lancashire
and is on the East Lancashire Line
. It is managed by Northern Rail
, which also provides its passenger service.
Following the singling of the track in 1986, Burnley Central has one platform in use, together with a small booking hall, waiting area and public address facility. There are information boards at the entrance of the station and in the booking hall.
in 1849 as part of its route from Bury
and Blackburn
to Colne
, where an end-on junction was made with the Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
line from Skipton
that had been completed several months earlier. The service from Colne through the station to Manchester Victoria via Bury was well used from the outset by the owners of the local cotton mills, who travelled from their homes in the area to make their purchases of raw cotton at the Royal Exchange
several times each week. It was also possible to travel from the station by direct train to Blackpool
, Liverpool
and Skipton and even through to London Euston via Blackburn, Manchester Victoria and Stockport.
However the cutbacks of the sixties affected the station badly, with through trains to Manchester via Bury ending in 1964 (two years before the withdrawal of the Accrington to Bury service) and those to Liverpool in 1969 whilst the line to Skipton was closed to all traffic in 1970. This left the station on a dead-end branch line from Rose Grove
to Colne, although the line remained double as far as Nelson until December 1986.
(eastbound) and Blackpool South
via Preston
(westbound).
On Sundays, there is a two-hourly service in each direction.
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and is on the East Lancashire Line
East Lancashire Line
The East Lancashire Line is a railway line in the Lancashire region of England, which runs between Preston and Colne, through Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley ....
. It is managed by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
, which also provides its passenger service.
Following the singling of the track in 1986, Burnley Central has one platform in use, together with a small booking hall, waiting area and public address facility. There are information boards at the entrance of the station and in the booking hall.
History
It was opened by the East Lancashire RailwayEast Lancashire Railway 1844-1849
The East Lancashire Railway operated from 1844 to 1859 in the historic county of Lancashire, England. It began as a railway from Clifton via Bury to Rawtenstall, and during its short life grew into a complex network of lines connecting towns and cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Preston and...
in 1849 as part of its route from Bury
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
and Blackburn
Blackburn railway station
Blackburn railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Blackburn in Lancashire, England. It is east of Preston and is managed and served by Northern Rail.-Description:The station is served by two lines...
to Colne
Colne railway station
Colne railway station serves the Lancashire mill town of Colne which is situated close to Pendle Hill. The station, which is managed by Northern Rail, is the terminus of the East Lancashire Line. Trains from Blackpool South run through Preston and Blackburn to Burnley and Colne.Currently the...
, where an end-on junction was made with the Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
The Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway was an early British railway company in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It built a line from near Bradford through and to...
line from Skipton
Skipton
Skipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
that had been completed several months earlier. The service from Colne through the station to Manchester Victoria via Bury was well used from the outset by the owners of the local cotton mills, who travelled from their homes in the area to make their purchases of raw cotton at the Royal Exchange
Royal Exchange, Manchester
The Royal Exchange is a grade II listed Victorian building in Manchester, England. It is located in the city centre on the land bounded by St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, Cross Street and Old Bank Street...
several times each week. It was also possible to travel from the station by direct train to Blackpool
Blackpool Central railway station
Blackpool Central was the largest railway station in the town of Blackpool in the county of Lancashire, England. When it closed in 1964, it became the station with the highest number of platforms ever to close, comprising 14 platforms...
, Liverpool
Liverpool Exchange railway station
Liverpool Exchange railway station was a railway station located in the town centre of Liverpool, England.- Station construction and opening :...
and Skipton and even through to London Euston via Blackburn, Manchester Victoria and Stockport.
However the cutbacks of the sixties affected the station badly, with through trains to Manchester via Bury ending in 1964 (two years before the withdrawal of the Accrington to Bury service) and those to Liverpool in 1969 whilst the line to Skipton was closed to all traffic in 1970. This left the station on a dead-end branch line from Rose Grove
Rose Grove railway station
Rose Grove railway station serves the western area of Burnley in Lancashire, England, 11 miles east of Blackburn railway station.The Caldervale Line and the East Lancashire Line join at Gannow Junction near Rose Grove, but there are no direct services between here and Burnley Manchester Road...
to Colne, although the line remained double as far as Nelson until December 1986.
Services
On weekdays, there is an hourly service from Burnley Central to ColneColne railway station
Colne railway station serves the Lancashire mill town of Colne which is situated close to Pendle Hill. The station, which is managed by Northern Rail, is the terminus of the East Lancashire Line. Trains from Blackpool South run through Preston and Blackburn to Burnley and Colne.Currently the...
(eastbound) and Blackpool South
Blackpool South railway station
Blackpool South railway station is a single platform stop at the end of the Fylde coast branch line from Kirkham, in Lancashire, England. It is unmanned and has an hourly service daily, except winter Sundays....
via Preston
Preston railway station
Preston railway station serves the city of Preston in Lancashire, England and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line.It is served by Northern Rail, Virgin Trains, and TransPennine Express services, plus First ScotRail overnight sleeper services between London and Scotland.-Station layout...
(westbound).
On Sundays, there is a two-hourly service in each direction.