Wrexham Central railway station
Encyclopedia
Wrexham Central railway station is the smaller of two main railway stations serving the central area of Wrexham
in Wales
. The platform
can accommodate a three car diesel train
, but has room for platform extension. It is the southern terminus of the Borderlands Line
, also known as the Wrexham-Bidston
line, which links north-east Wales to Merseyside
.
The current station was constructed in 1998 inside a large shopping centre in Wrexham town centre known as Island Green. It replaced the first Central station, opened on 1 November 1887, which was a large station located 250 metres (273.4 yd) to the east. This station closed on 23 November 1998 and has been replaced by another large shopping centre.
(WMCQ) had opened between and Buckley (old station) on 1 May 1866. A southern extension to a station better situated for the centre of Wrexham was authorised on 18 August 1882; work did not begin until January 1887, and it was opened on 1 November the same year. Wrexham Central was a large station, with a marshalling yard and goods depot accompanying it. The station clock was provided and maintained free of charge by a local watchmaker named Pierce. It was a terminus for several years until the Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway (W&ER) was opened on 2 November 1895. The W&ER was built with financial assistance of the WMCQ and the Cambrian Railways
, and operated by the latter, which it joined at .
The line of the former W&ER was a victim of the Beeching cuts, closing on 10 September 1962, and Wrexham Central almost met a similar fate. As Wrexham was undergoing population growth at the time, it was decided to retain it due to being conveniently close to the town centre
. It was reduced to a single track station with a small concrete shelter and an adjacent stabling siding. The goods depot and marshalling yard were reduced to a large car park and railway club.
with Class 153 Sprinters
occasionally substituting. The line used to see Pacer 142 units
, but these were stopped due to their ride quality on jointed track. One of the conditions the Rail Users group gave on the relocation was that if needed, space be left for future doubling of the track and a second platform, which was complied with.
There are possibilities that Wrexham Central may become electrified, as part of electrification of the entire Borderlands line. Network Rail mentioned this as a possible future development for the route in its 2007 Business Plan for the area, but further progress is dependent on a favourable business case being put forward and funding secured.
The station is unstaffed, however a self-service ticket machine is available on the platform, alongside a public payphone and self-help point in the waiting room. A PA
system is installed, but is currently not in use. The station adjoins a pay-and-display car park within the Island Green shopping centre, however three free spaces are provided for railway passengers.
At privatisation
, the station became managed by North Western Trains, later known as First North Western
. A review in 2003 led to the station being briefly operated by Wales & Borders, before finally Arriva Trains Wales
from late 2003 to present.
and Bidston
on Monday to Saturday daytimes, dropping to two-hourly in the evenings. Connections for Birkenhead and Liverpool are available at Bidston.
There is a limited service (five trains in total) on Sundays.
Intercity services run to and from Wrexham General
on Mold Road.
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The platform
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
can accommodate a three car diesel train
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:...
, but has room for platform extension. It is the southern terminus of the Borderlands Line
Borderlands Line
The Borderlands Line is the railway line between Wrexham, Wales, and Bidston, Wirral, England.Passenger train services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales between Wrexham Central and Bidston. Trains run every hour Monday to Saturday daytime, every two hours after 18:45 and on Sundays...
, also known as the Wrexham-Bidston
Bidston
Bidston is a suburb of Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, England. Administratively, it is also a ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. Before local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974, it was part of the County Borough of Birkenhead, within the geographical county of Cheshire...
line, which links north-east Wales to Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
.
The current station was constructed in 1998 inside a large shopping centre in Wrexham town centre known as Island Green. It replaced the first Central station, opened on 1 November 1887, which was a large station located 250 metres (273.4 yd) to the east. This station closed on 23 November 1998 and has been replaced by another large shopping centre.
The original station
The Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay RailwayWrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway
The Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway was incorporated on 7 August 1862 to build a line from Wrexham to Buckley.-Overview:The Buckley Railway had already been incorporated on 14 June 1860 to build a line from that town to a junction with the London and North Western Railway Chester-Holyhead...
(WMCQ) had opened between and Buckley (old station) on 1 May 1866. A southern extension to a station better situated for the centre of Wrexham was authorised on 18 August 1882; work did not begin until January 1887, and it was opened on 1 November the same year. Wrexham Central was a large station, with a marshalling yard and goods depot accompanying it. The station clock was provided and maintained free of charge by a local watchmaker named Pierce. It was a terminus for several years until the Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway (W&ER) was opened on 2 November 1895. The W&ER was built with financial assistance of the WMCQ and the Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways owned of track over a large area of mid-Wales. The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904...
, and operated by the latter, which it joined at .
The line of the former W&ER was a victim of the Beeching cuts, closing on 10 September 1962, and Wrexham Central almost met a similar fate. As Wrexham was undergoing population growth at the time, it was decided to retain it due to being conveniently close to the town centre
Town centre
The town centre is the term used to refer to the commercial or geographical centre or core area of a town.Town centres are traditionally associated with shopping or retail. They are also the centre of communications with major public transport hubs such as train or bus stations...
. It was reduced to a single track station with a small concrete shelter and an adjacent stabling siding. The goods depot and marshalling yard were reduced to a large car park and railway club.
The present station
In 1998, a large shopping centre was to be built on the entire area, and the station was pushed back by 250 metres (273.4 yd). The local rail users group tried to prevent this, but failed. They did however get a large station building constructed compared to the prefabricated open concrete shelter it replaced. The line today sees Class 150 SprintersBritish Rail Class 150
The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :...
with Class 153 Sprinters
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...
occasionally substituting. The line used to see Pacer 142 units
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....
, but these were stopped due to their ride quality on jointed track. One of the conditions the Rail Users group gave on the relocation was that if needed, space be left for future doubling of the track and a second platform, which was complied with.
There are possibilities that Wrexham Central may become electrified, as part of electrification of the entire Borderlands line. Network Rail mentioned this as a possible future development for the route in its 2007 Business Plan for the area, but further progress is dependent on a favourable business case being put forward and funding secured.
The station is unstaffed, however a self-service ticket machine is available on the platform, alongside a public payphone and self-help point in the waiting room. A PA
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
system is installed, but is currently not in use. The station adjoins a pay-and-display car park within the Island Green shopping centre, however three free spaces are provided for railway passengers.
At privatisation
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
, the station became managed by North Western Trains, later known as First North Western
First North Western
First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England. It operated from 1997 to 2004.The company when first privatised was known as North Western Trains and was owned by Great Western Holdings, a partnership between Great Western's management, First...
. A review in 2003 led to the station being briefly operated by Wales & Borders, before finally Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
from late 2003 to present.
Services
The station has an hourly service to ShottonShotton railway station
Shotton railway station serves the town of Shotton, Flintshire, Wales. It is situated where the Borderlands Line crosses the North Wales Coast Line. All passenger services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales, which manages the station....
and Bidston
Bidston railway station
Bidston railway station is a railway station in Bidston, Birkenhead, on the Wirral, England. It is situated at the junction of the West Kirby branch of the Wirral Line with the Borderlands Line from Wrexham Central .-History:The station was originally built by the Hoylake Railway in 1866 as an...
on Monday to Saturday daytimes, dropping to two-hourly in the evenings. Connections for Birkenhead and Liverpool are available at Bidston.
There is a limited service (five trains in total) on Sundays.
Intercity services run to and from Wrexham General
Wrexham General railway station
Wrexham General railway station is a main line railway station and the main railway station serving Wrexham, north-east Wales. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, but services are also provided by Virgin Trains who operate a service to London Euston...
on Mold Road.