Congleton railway station
Encyclopedia
Congleton railway station is a main line station serving the Cheshire
town of Congleton
. It lies on the Manchester
to Stoke-on-Trent
branch of the West Coast Main Line
, in the United Kingdom
.
The line from Stoke as far as Congleton was opened on 9 October 1848, with Congleton station opening on this day, being owned by the North Staffordshire Railway
.
Until 2003, Congleton was served on Monday to Friday by around 19 local stopping services which consisted of approximately 11 southbound services (one starting from Macclesfield) and 9 trains northbound (some semi-fast). The number of local services operating on Saturday varied but remained similar to weekday services. 3 trains each way operated on a Sunday.
All these local services were operated by North Western trains, who were latterly known as First North Western
.
From 2003-2008 there were 7 trains a day Monday to Friday, 3 southbound (one from Macclesfield only) and 4 northbound (one semi-fast). On Saturdays there were 2 trains southbound (one from Macclesfield only) and 2 trains northbound. On Sundays there were three trains in each direction. These were operated by Northern from 2004.
Additionally Virgin Trains (CrossCountry from 2007) operated increased services Monday to Saturday to Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham New Street. Brighton, Reading, Guildford, Gatwick Airport and also London (Euston).
Additionally Arriva CrossCountry
operate a limited service at Peak times.
Sundays still see a skeletal service of 3 trains in each direction, which usually run in the Late Afternoon/Early Evening. However there will be one additional service from December 2011 which will be funded by Transport for Greater Manchester and East Cheshire Council, who will contribute 39%.
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
town of Congleton
Congleton
Congleton is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Dane, to the west of the Macclesfield Canal and 21 miles south of Manchester. It has a population of 25,750.-History:The first settlements in...
. It lies on the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
branch of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The line from Stoke as far as Congleton was opened on 9 October 1848, with Congleton station opening on this day, being owned by the North Staffordshire Railway
North Staffordshire Railway
The North Staffordshire Railway was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire....
.
Previous service pattern
Since early privatisation, Virgin trains have served the station every two hours during the day on Monday to Saturdays. This was agreed by Virgin Trains in order to prevent increased use of the line by Stopping Services.Until 2003, Congleton was served on Monday to Friday by around 19 local stopping services which consisted of approximately 11 southbound services (one starting from Macclesfield) and 9 trains northbound (some semi-fast). The number of local services operating on Saturday varied but remained similar to weekday services. 3 trains each way operated on a Sunday.
All these local services were operated by North Western trains, who were latterly known as First North Western
First North Western
First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England. It operated from 1997 to 2004.The company when first privatised was known as North Western Trains and was owned by Great Western Holdings, a partnership between Great Western's management, First...
.
From 2003-2008 there were 7 trains a day Monday to Friday, 3 southbound (one from Macclesfield only) and 4 northbound (one semi-fast). On Saturdays there were 2 trains southbound (one from Macclesfield only) and 2 trains northbound. On Sundays there were three trains in each direction. These were operated by Northern from 2004.
Additionally Virgin Trains (CrossCountry from 2007) operated increased services Monday to Saturday to Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham New Street. Brighton, Reading, Guildford, Gatwick Airport and also London (Euston).
Today
Today the station is managed by Northern who now operate an hourly service pattern to Stoke-On-Trent and Manchester Piccadilly Monday-Saturday.Additionally Arriva CrossCountry
CrossCountry
CrossCountry is the brand name of XC Trains Ltd., a British train operating company owned by Arriva...
operate a limited service at Peak times.
Sundays still see a skeletal service of 3 trains in each direction, which usually run in the Late Afternoon/Early Evening. However there will be one additional service from December 2011 which will be funded by Transport for Greater Manchester and East Cheshire Council, who will contribute 39%.