Salford Central railway station
Encyclopedia
Salford Central railway station is a railway station in Salford, Greater Manchester
in the North West
of England
just over the River Irwell
from Manchester city centre
. It is very close to Manchester's Spinningfields
district and the area behind the House of Fraser
(Kendal's
) department store, Deansgate
. It is served by trains to and from Manchester Victoria, towards Rochdale
, Salford Crescent
, Bolton
, Wigan Wallgate
and beyond. The station is managed by Northern Rail
and has recently been modernised.
The station was opened on 29 May 1838 as a terminus on the Manchester and Bolton Railway
, and was originally named Salford. In 1843 a connection to Manchester Victoria was built, carried on iron columns. The roof suffered from corrosion caused by the sulphurous emissions of locomotives passing through the station and one was replaced after only four years. Between April 1858 and August 1865, the station was named Salford (New Bailey Street), after which it reverted to its original name of Salford.
To avoid confusion with the recently built Salford Crescent (built to replace nearby Pendleton railway station
), on 3 October 1988 the station was renamed Salford Central. For many years the station was served at peak times only.
With only platforms 1 & 2 in current use, the station is now managed by Northern Rail
and has recently undergone a major transformation. This has involved the construction of a new ticket office as well as making the station building fully accessible by the use of ramps from the entrances to the ticket office and lifts and ramps from the ticket office to the platforms.
The station is closed on Sundays.
is easily accessible either on foot or by a short ride on public transport, including the free Metroshuttle
bus (No. 3) from New Bailey Street, directly outside the station. There is presently no taxi rank serving the station. Salford is also served by Salford Crescent railway station
, well placed for the University of Salford
and a relatively short walk from Salford Shopping City (Salford Precinct).
(via ), the lines of which run through the station but are not provided with platforms. (platforms 3 & 4 unused)
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
in the North West
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
of 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...
just over the River Irwell
River Irwell
The River Irwell is a long river which flows through the Irwell Valley in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in North West England. The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, approximately north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire...
from Manchester city centre
Manchester City Centre
Manchester city centre is the central business district of Manchester, England. It lies within the Manchester Inner Ring Road, next to the River Irwell...
. It is very close to Manchester's Spinningfields
Spinningfields
Spinningfields is a large business, retail and residential development in Manchester, England that lies in the western portion of the City Centre, between south Deansgate and the River Irwell. The Spinningfields complex is the masterplan of Allied London Properties, a London-based property...
district and the area behind the House of Fraser
House of Fraser
House of Fraser is a British department store group with over 60 stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established in Glasgow, Scotland in 1849 as Arthur and Fraser. By 1891 it was known as Fraser & Sons. The company grew steadily during the early 20th century, but after the Second...
(Kendal's
Kendals
Kendals, Kendal Milne, Kendal, Milne & Co, Kendal, Milne & Faulkner or Watts' was the name of a department store in Manchester, England.-History:...
) department store, Deansgate
Deansgate
Deansgate is a main road through the city centre of Manchester, England. It runs roughly north–south in a near straight route through the western part of the city centre and is the longest road in the city centre at over one mile long....
. It is served by trains to and from Manchester Victoria, towards Rochdale
Rochdale railway station
Rochdale railway station serves the town of Rochdale in Greater Manchester, England. The Manchester and Leeds Railway opened a station serving the town in the 19th century...
, Salford Crescent
Salford Crescent railway station
Salford Crescent is one of two railway stations in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. The other station is Salford Central.The station is west of Manchester Victoria and west of Manchester Piccadilly...
, Bolton
Bolton railway station
Bolton Interchange is a transport interchange combining the railway station and a four stand bus station in the town of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. The station is located on the Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line and is managed by Northern Rail...
, Wigan Wallgate
Wigan Wallgate railway station
Wigan Wallgate railway station is one of two main railway stations serving the town of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. The station is on 2 lines, the Manchester-Southport Line and the Manchester-Kirkby Line. It is north west of Manchester Victoria...
and beyond. The station 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...
and has recently been modernised.
History
Manchester and Bolton Railway
The Manchester and Bolton Railway was a railway in the historic county of Lancashire, England, connecting Salford to Bolton. It was built by the proprietors of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Navigation and Railway Company who had in 1831 converted from a canal company...
, and was originally named Salford. In 1843 a connection to Manchester Victoria was built, carried on iron columns. The roof suffered from corrosion caused by the sulphurous emissions of locomotives passing through the station and one was replaced after only four years. Between April 1858 and August 1865, the station was named Salford (New Bailey Street), after which it reverted to its original name of Salford.
To avoid confusion with the recently built Salford Crescent (built to replace nearby Pendleton railway station
Pendleton railway station
Pendleton railway station was a railway station serving Pendleton, a district of Salford. It was located on Broughton Road just behind St. Thomas' Church . It was about 100 yards further up Broughton Road from Pendleton Bridge railway station and nearer Pendleton Church and Broad Street...
), on 3 October 1988 the station was renamed Salford Central. For many years the station was served at peak times only.
With only platforms 1 & 2 in current use, the station is now 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...
and has recently undergone a major transformation. This has involved the construction of a new ticket office as well as making the station building fully accessible by the use of ramps from the entrances to the ticket office and lifts and ramps from the ticket office to the platforms.
The station is closed on Sundays.
Location
Manchester city centreManchester City Centre
Manchester city centre is the central business district of Manchester, England. It lies within the Manchester Inner Ring Road, next to the River Irwell...
is easily accessible either on foot or by a short ride on public transport, including the free Metroshuttle
Metroshuttle
Metroshuttle is a free bus system that operates in Manchester city centre and Bolton and Stockport town centres, all in Greater Manchester, England. Manchester's Metroshuttle consists of three routes that traverse the city centre, linking the city's major thoroughfares and stations with its main...
bus (No. 3) from New Bailey Street, directly outside the station. There is presently no taxi rank serving the station. Salford is also served by Salford Crescent railway station
Salford Crescent railway station
Salford Crescent is one of two railway stations in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. The other station is Salford Central.The station is west of Manchester Victoria and west of Manchester Piccadilly...
, well placed for the University of Salford
University of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
and a relatively short walk from Salford Shopping City (Salford Precinct).
Future development
A Network Rail report suggests building platforms on the line to LiverpoolLiverpool Lime Street railway station
Liverpool Lime Street is a railway station serving the city centre of Liverpool, England. The station lies on a branch of the West Coast Main Line from London Euston, and on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network...
(via ), the lines of which run through the station but are not provided with platforms. (platforms 3 & 4 unused)