Morecambe railway station
Encyclopedia
Morecambe railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Morecambe
in Lancashire
, England
. It is located on the Morecambe Branch Line
from to Heysham
. The current truncated
two-platform station was opened in 1994 to replace the Midland Railway
's earlier terminus situated some 400 m further west, closer to the town's sea front. The old station building remains in use as a pub and restaurant, but its platforms have been demolished and the site is now occupied by a cinema and the Morecambe indoor market.
Recently a modern ticket office was opened and passenger numbers have increased by 8% over the last five years. Services are operated by variety of diesel multiple unit
s, including Class 142
, Class 153
and Class 156
sets.
Services mainly run into Platforms 1 and 2 at Lancaster (although some also use Platform 5). Trains can only go to Heysham
using Platform 2, as the separate lines to Platforms 1 and 2 are only connected at . The diagram below shows the current trackwork at Morecambe Station.
local services, which operate as a regular Lancaster-Morecambe shuttle. There are also four daily longer-distance services from Morecambe to and via the Leeds to Morecambe Line (two on Sundays, with a further pair in the summer). Additionally, there is a limited service to Heysham
, connecting with the ferry
to the Isle of Man
. Trains for Heysham must reverse at Morecambe.
and continuing via . This runs purely to provide a token parliamentary service
over the Bare Lane to Hest Bank curve, which has not otherwise been used for passenger trains on a regular basis since trains from Leeds were diverted via Lancaster in 1987.
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...
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...
, England
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...
. It is located on 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 to Heysham
Heysham Port railway station
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 , which connected with the ferry to Douglas in the Isle of Man...
. The current truncated
Truncated railway station termini
A truncated railway station terminus is when an original station site is sold for redevelopment and a new, usually smaller station is constructed back down the line. Whilst there are many examples of station buildings and other structures, such as the redundant platforms at Whitby being sold for...
two-platform station was opened in 1994 to replace 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....
's earlier terminus situated some 400 m further west, closer to the town's sea front. The old station building remains in use as a pub and restaurant, but its platforms have been demolished and the site is now occupied by a cinema and the Morecambe indoor market.
Recently a modern ticket office was opened and passenger numbers have increased by 8% over the last five years. Services are operated by variety of diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s, including Class 142
British Rail Class 142
The British Rail Class 142 is a class of Pacer diesel multiple units used in the United Kingdom. 96 units were built by BREL in Derby between 1985 and 1987. They were a development of the earlier Class 141 which were introduced in 1984....
, Class 153
British Rail Class 153
The British Rail Class 153 Super Sprinter is a single car diesel multiple unit converted from British Rail Class 155s.-Description:These units were originally built as two-car Class 155 units by British Leyland from 1987–88, but were converted by Hunslet-Barclay at Kilmarnock from 1991-92...
and Class 156
British Rail Class 156
The British Rail Class 156 Super Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train . 114 of these units were built from 1987 to 1989 by Metro-Cammell at its Washwood Heath Works in Birmingham...
sets.
Services mainly run into Platforms 1 and 2 at Lancaster (although some also use Platform 5). Trains can only go to Heysham
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...
using Platform 2, as the separate lines to Platforms 1 and 2 are only connected at . The diagram below shows the current trackwork at Morecambe Station.
Services
The station is served by Northern RailNorthern 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...
local services, which operate as a regular Lancaster-Morecambe shuttle. There are also four daily longer-distance services from Morecambe to and via the Leeds to Morecambe Line (two on Sundays, with a further pair in the summer). Additionally, there is a limited service to Heysham
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...
, connecting 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 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...
. Trains for Heysham must reverse at Morecambe.
2007
Additionally the last train each weekday evening is a Transpennine Express service from , which diverts from its route to . This service calls at Lancaster, Bare Lane and Morecambe, before reversing, calling at Bare Lane again, then rejoining the West Coast Main LineWest 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...
and continuing via . This runs purely to provide a token parliamentary service
Parliamentary train
A Parliamentary train or Parly is, nowadays, a British English term for a train that operates a Parliamentary service - that is to say a token service to a given station, thus maintaining a legal fiction that either the station or, in some cases, the whole line is open, although in reality the...
over the Bare Lane to Hest Bank curve, which has not otherwise been used for passenger trains on a regular basis since trains from Leeds were diverted via Lancaster in 1987.