Workington North railway station
Encyclopedia
Workington North railway station was a temporary railway station
in Cumbria
, United Kingdom
, constructed following floods which cut all road access to Workington
town centre from north of the River Derwent
. The station was located 1 miles (1.6 km) north of Workington station
on the Cumbrian Coast Line
.
Until the new station opened, the closest station north of the River Derwent was Flimby railway station
, which saw its passenger numbers increase enormously after the floods. Flimby had seen as many passengers on 24 November 2009 as would usually use the station in a fortnight. When the station first opened access to Workington by road from Northside involved a journey of 30 miles (48.3 km) because the bridges over the River Derwent for the A596
and A597 roads were destroyed or badly damaged by the flood. The construction of a temporary road bridge over the Derwent made vehicular access easier but the railway station remained open until 8 October 2010, when the last train called.
began construction of the new station during the night of 24/25 November 2009. The station featured two platforms linked by a footbridge, a waiting room, and a gravel car park. Network Rail agreed a two-year lease of land owned by Allerdale Borough Council off the A596
immediately north of St Helens Business Park, opposite the Plaza Cinema.
The structure used a scaffolding
base covered by wooden planks with an anti-slip surfacing. Construction work was undertaken "round the clock" in order to get the new station opened. The southbound platform was completed on 26 November, and the northbound platform and footbridge were completed by 28 November. The station opened on 30 November 2009, construction having taken six days.
Prince Charles
visited the station on 27 November 2009 to inspect the construction work being undertaken as part of a visit to the region.
Once opened, the station was served by all existing trains and an additional hourly shuttle train (composed of a locomotive and at least three former inter-city mainline coaches) operated by Cumbrian-based Direct Rail Services
(DRS) on behalf of Northern Rail—running northbound to Maryport
and southbound to Workington. This service started on 30 November 2009 and ran until 28 May 2010. It was initially funded by the Department for Transport
at a cost of £216,000. All services between Workington, Workington North, Flimby and Maryport were free of charge for this period.
. All trains on the line in both directions would call additionally at the new station. There was generally an hourly service northbound to Carlisle and southbound to Whitehaven station
with some trains going onwards to . On Sundays three trains per day went to Carlisle and Whitehaven stations.
on the opening of the station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, 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...
, constructed following floods which cut all road access to Workington
Workington
Workington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
town centre from north of the River Derwent
River Derwent, Cumbria
The Derwent is a river in the Lake District of the county of Cumbria in the north of England. The name Derwent is derived from a Celtic word for "oak trees"....
. The station was located 1 miles (1.6 km) north of Workington station
Workington railway station
Workington railway station serves the town of Workington in Cumbria, England. The railway station is a stop on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line south west of Carlisle. Some through trains to the Furness Line and to Sunderland stop here. It is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train...
on the Cumbrian Coast Line
Cumbrian Coast Line
The Cumbrian Coast Line is a rail route in North West England, running from Carlisle to Barrow-in-Furness via Workington and Whitehaven. The line forms part of Network Rail route NW 4033, which continues via Ulverston and Grange-over-Sands to Carnforth, where it connects with the West Coast Main...
.
Until the new station opened, the closest station north of the River Derwent was Flimby railway station
Flimby railway station
Flimby Railway Station serves the Maryport suburb of Flimby in Cumbria, England. The railway station is a request stop on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line south east of Carlisle railway station...
, which saw its passenger numbers increase enormously after the floods. Flimby had seen as many passengers on 24 November 2009 as would usually use the station in a fortnight. When the station first opened access to Workington by road from Northside involved a journey of 30 miles (48.3 km) because the bridges over the River Derwent for the A596
A596 road
The A596 is a primary route in Cumbria, in northern England, that runs between Thursby and Workington. For its entirety the A596 parallels the A595, and meets the A595 at both ends. The A596 begins its course at a roundabout junction with the A595 at Thursby, before continuing past the towns of...
and A597 roads were destroyed or badly damaged by the flood. The construction of a temporary road bridge over the Derwent made vehicular access easier but the railway station remained open until 8 October 2010, when the last train called.
Construction
Network RailNetwork Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
began construction of the new station during the night of 24/25 November 2009. The station featured two platforms linked by a footbridge, a waiting room, and a gravel car park. Network Rail agreed a two-year lease of land owned by Allerdale Borough Council off the A596
A596 road
The A596 is a primary route in Cumbria, in northern England, that runs between Thursby and Workington. For its entirety the A596 parallels the A595, and meets the A595 at both ends. The A596 begins its course at a roundabout junction with the A595 at Thursby, before continuing past the towns of...
immediately north of St Helens Business Park, opposite the Plaza Cinema.
The structure used a scaffolding
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes, although it can be from other materials...
base covered by wooden planks with an anti-slip surfacing. Construction work was undertaken "round the clock" in order to get the new station opened. The southbound platform was completed on 26 November, and the northbound platform and footbridge were completed by 28 November. The station opened on 30 November 2009, construction having taken six days.
Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
visited the station on 27 November 2009 to inspect the construction work being undertaken as part of a visit to the region.
Once opened, the station was served by all existing trains and an additional hourly shuttle train (composed of a locomotive and at least three former inter-city mainline coaches) operated by Cumbrian-based Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought...
(DRS) on behalf of Northern Rail—running northbound to Maryport
Maryport railway station
Maryport Railway Station serves the town of Maryport in Cumbria, England. The railway station is a stop on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line south west of Carlisle. It is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services...
and southbound to Workington. This service started on 30 November 2009 and ran until 28 May 2010. It was initially funded by the Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
at a cost of £216,000. All services between Workington, Workington North, Flimby and Maryport were free of charge for this period.
Services
All services from the station were operated 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...
. All trains on the line in both directions would call additionally at the new station. There was generally an hourly service northbound to Carlisle and southbound to Whitehaven station
Whitehaven railway station
Whitehaven Railway Station serves the town of Whitehaven in Cumbria, England. The railway station is a stop on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line south west of Carlisle....
with some trains going onwards to . On Sundays three trains per day went to Carlisle and Whitehaven stations.
External links
Videos from BBC NewsBBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
on the opening of the station