Widnes railway station
Encyclopedia
Widnes railway station is a railway station in the town of Widnes
, in the Halton
unitary authority, in the county of Cheshire
in North West England
. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II listed building. The station is operated by Northern Rail
.
style. A footbridge connects the two platforms. The station is staffed, but only until 14:00. There is a car park outside. The station was refurbished in 2009 and as of 2010 houses a station shop and Debbie's Beauty, though there are still no toilet or waiting facilities for passengers other than the already existent shelter on the Manchester bound platform. The platforms and footbridge are being refurbished (2011).
, which was at the time a village north of Widnes, but is now a northern suburb of the town. The station was later renamed Widnes North and finally Widnes (Widnes Central and Widnes South, on other lines, having closed to passengers in 1964 and 1962 respectively).
to the east and Liverpool Lime Street
to the west. Journey times from Widnes to Manchester on these local trains are around 45–50 minutes, depending on the number of stops. Journey time to Liverpool is around 25–30 minutes, again depending on stops.
An express service also operates hourly in each direction (run by East Midlands Trains
), continuing beyond Manchester Piccadilly
towards Nottingham
and Norwich
. The journey time on most of these trains to Manchester is 30 minutes, whilst Liverpool can be reached in 18 minutes.
The ticket office is staffed on a part time bases between the hours of (06:00 and 14:00 Mon-Sat).
was inspired to write the song "Homeward Bound
" while waiting at Ditton station
, on the outskirts of Widnes. A plaque commemorating this claim to fame was displayed at Ditton railway station until it was closed in 1994 when the plaque was moved to the ticket office on the Liverpool bound platform of Widnes railway station. Simon is quoted as saying "[i]f you'd ever seen Widnes, then you'd know why I was keen to get back to London as quickly as possible."
Widnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
, in the Halton
Halton (borough)
Halton is a local government district in North West England, with borough status and administered by a unitary authority. It was created in 1974 as a district of Cheshire, and became a unitary authority area on 1 April 1998. It consists of the towns of Widnes and Runcorn and the civil parishes of...
unitary authority, in the county of Cheshire
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...
in North West England
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...
. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II listed building. The station is 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...
.
Facilities
The railway station is of the standard Cheshire Lines CommitteeCheshire Lines Committee
The Cheshire Lines Committee was the second largest joint railway in Great Britain, with 143 route miles. Despite its name, approximately 55% of its system was in Lancashire. In its publicity material it was often styled as the Cheshire Lines Railway...
style. A footbridge connects the two platforms. The station is staffed, but only until 14:00. There is a car park outside. The station was refurbished in 2009 and as of 2010 houses a station shop and Debbie's Beauty, though there are still no toilet or waiting facilities for passengers other than the already existent shelter on the Manchester bound platform. The platforms and footbridge are being refurbished (2011).
History
The station, opened in 1873, was originally known as FarnworthFarnworth, Cheshire
Farnworth is part of the town of Widnes which is in the Borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It was a village in south Lancashire between Prescot and Penketh...
, which was at the time a village north of Widnes, but is now a northern suburb of the town. The station was later renamed Widnes North and finally Widnes (Widnes Central and Widnes South, on other lines, having closed to passengers in 1964 and 1962 respectively).
Service
There are generally two local trains (operated by Northern Rail) per hour in each direction, to Manchester Oxford RoadManchester Oxford Road railway station
Manchester Oxford Road Railway Station is a railway station in the city of Manchester, England. The station is located at the junction of Whitworth Street West and Oxford Street, on an elevated line between Deansgate and Piccadilly stations....
to the east and Liverpool Lime Street
Liverpool 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...
to the west. Journey times from Widnes to Manchester on these local trains are around 45–50 minutes, depending on the number of stops. Journey time to Liverpool is around 25–30 minutes, again depending on stops.
An express service also operates hourly in each direction (run by East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains is a British passenger train operating company. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and between the East Midlands and London...
), continuing beyond Manchester Piccadilly
Manchester Piccadilly station
Manchester Piccadilly is the principal railway station in Manchester, England. It serves intercity routes to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, South Wales, the south coast of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central, and routes throughout northern England...
towards Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and Norwich
Norwich railway station
Norwich is a railway station serving the city of Norwich in the English county of Norfolk. The station is the northern terminus of the Great Eastern Main Line from London Liverpool Street. It is also the terminus of railway lines from Ely, Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.-History:At one...
. The journey time on most of these trains to Manchester is 30 minutes, whilst Liverpool can be reached in 18 minutes.
The ticket office is staffed on a part time bases between the hours of (06:00 and 14:00 Mon-Sat).
Paul Simon's "Homeward Bound"
Paul SimonPaul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
was inspired to write the song "Homeward Bound
Homeward Bound (song)
"Homeward Bound" is an American folk song written by Paul Simon, performed by Simon and Garfunkel, produced by Bob Johnston and recorded on December 14, 1965. The song describes his longing to return home, both to his then girlfriend, Kathy Chitty in Brentwood, Essex, England, and to return to the...
" while waiting at Ditton station
Ditton railway station
Ditton railway station, earlier known as Ditton Junction, was in the town of Widnes in Cheshire, England on Hale Road on the border between Ditton and Halebank...
, on the outskirts of Widnes. A plaque commemorating this claim to fame was displayed at Ditton railway station until it was closed in 1994 when the plaque was moved to the ticket office on the Liverpool bound platform of Widnes railway station. Simon is quoted as saying "[i]f you'd ever seen Widnes, then you'd know why I was keen to get back to London as quickly as possible."