Heysham Port railway station
Encyclopedia
Heysham Port railway station serves the port of Heysham
in Lancashire
.
It is the terminus of the Morecambe Branch Line
from Lancaster.
A twice-daily service formerly served the railway station (the first around midday with a second approximately an hour later), which connected with the ferry
to Douglas
in the Isle of Man
. These services were operated by Northern Rail
as an extension of the Lancaster-Morecambe
shuttle. A Sunday service ran during the summer months.
From December 2008 however the service has been reduced to one train each way per day, which runs to and from Leeds. This is scheduled to arrive at 12:57 (12:54 on Saturdays), returning to Leeds at 13:15. A Sunday service (of two trains each way) operated in summer 2009 from the mid-May timetable change until mid-September. This will run once again during the summer 2010 & 2011 timetable periods.
The train service was temporarily suspended in March 2011 for sixteen weeks (late March until mid-July), as the Barrow-based drivers who normally operate the daily service were unavailable due to the Arnside viaduct engineering blockade. A replacement bus service ran to & from Lancaster for the duration of the work, which was completed in time for a resumption of train services on 18 July.
The station, which was first opened under the name Heysham Harbour by the Midland Railway
on 4 May 1904, served boat trains for Belfast
until the closure of the ferry route in April 1975. The train service was then withdrawn a few months later (on 6 October), but reinstated, with the station renamed Heysham Sea Terminal, on 11 May 1987 to provide a rail connection with the daily sailing to Douglas. The station acquired its present name on 28 September 1992.
The station formerly had additional platforms (which can still be seen), a Shell fuel oil distribution terminal and also a frequent EMU
local service to and from Lancaster via Morecambe
(which began in 1908), but this ended in January 1966 when the old Midland route to Lancaster Green Ayre
fell victim to the Beeching Axe
. The overhead electrification on the branch was removed at the same time.
Heysham
Heysham is a large coastal village near Lancaster in the county of Lancashire, England. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is a ferry port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations which are landmarks visible from hills in the surrounding area...
in 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...
.
It is the terminus of the Morecambe Branch Line
Morecambe Branch Line
The Morecambe Branch Line is a railway line in Lancashire, England, from Lancaster to Morecambe and Heysham where services connect with the ferry service to Douglas on the Isle of Man. To reach Heysham, trains must reverse at Morecambe....
from Lancaster.
A twice-daily service formerly served the railway station (the first around midday with a second approximately an hour later), which connected with the ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
to Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
in the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. These services were operated 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...
as an extension of the Lancaster-Morecambe
Morecambe
Morecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It faces into Morecambe Bay...
shuttle. A Sunday service ran during the summer months.
From December 2008 however the service has been reduced to one train each way per day, which runs to and from Leeds. This is scheduled to arrive at 12:57 (12:54 on Saturdays), returning to Leeds at 13:15. A Sunday service (of two trains each way) operated in summer 2009 from the mid-May timetable change until mid-September. This will run once again during the summer 2010 & 2011 timetable periods.
The train service was temporarily suspended in March 2011 for sixteen weeks (late March until mid-July), as the Barrow-based drivers who normally operate the daily service were unavailable due to the Arnside viaduct engineering blockade. A replacement bus service ran to & from Lancaster for the duration of the work, which was completed in time for a resumption of train services on 18 July.
The station, which was first opened under the name Heysham Harbour 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....
on 4 May 1904, served boat trains for Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
until the closure of the ferry route in April 1975. The train service was then withdrawn a few months later (on 6 October), but reinstated, with the station renamed Heysham Sea Terminal, on 11 May 1987 to provide a rail connection with the daily sailing to Douglas. The station acquired its present name on 28 September 1992.
The station formerly had additional platforms (which can still be seen), a Shell fuel oil distribution terminal and also a frequent EMU
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
local service to and from Lancaster via Morecambe
Morecambe Promenade railway station
Morecambe Promenade Station was a railway station in Morecambe, Lancashire. It was opened on March 24th 1907 by the Midland Railway and closed in February 1994...
(which began in 1908), but this ended in January 1966 when the old Midland route to Lancaster Green Ayre
Lancaster Green Ayre railway station
Lancaster Green Ayre railway station was the Midland Railway's station in the city of Lancaster in England. The line between Green Ayre and Morecambe was used for pioneering experimental electrification via overhead cable....
fell victim to the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
. The overhead electrification on the branch was removed at the same time.