Salford Central railway station

Salford Central
The new glass frontage of the station
Location
Place	Salford
Local authority	Salford
Coordinates	53.4828°N 2.2558°W / 53.4828; -2.2558
Grid reference	SJ831984
Operations
Station code	SFD
Managed by	Northern Rail
Number of platforms	2
Live arrivals/departures and station information from National Rail Enquiries
Annual rail passenger usage
2004/05 *	0.102 million
2005/06 *	0.117 million
2006/07 *	0.119 million
2007/08 *	0.125 million
2008/09 *	0.222 million
2009/10 *	0.226 million
Passenger Transport Executive
PTE	Greater Manchester
History
Original company	Manchester, Bolton and Bury Railway
Pre-grouping	Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Post-grouping	London, Midland and Scottish Railway
29 May 1838	Opened as Salford
April 1858	Renamed Salford (New Bailey Street)
August 1865	Renamed Salford
3 October 1988	Renamed Salford Central
National Rail - UK railway stations
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Salford Central from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. Please note: methodology may vary year on year.

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.

History

The station as it appeared in 1989

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. although it is not (as a matter of fact) central to Salford. For many years the station was served at peak times only.

Eastbound ECS entering the station in 1959

Down local train passing the Station in 1959

Westbound empty stock train passing Salford Station in 1963

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.

Location

Manchester city centre 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).

Future development

A Network Rail report suggests building platforms on the line to Liverpool (via Newton-le-Willows), the lines of which run through the station but are not provided with platforms. (platforms 3 & 4 unused)

References

Bibliography

• Butt, R.V.J. (1995), The Directory of Railway Stations, Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd, ISBN 1 85260 508 1, R508 
• Crookes, William, ed. (1874), "Proceedings of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, 7 April 1874", The Chemical News and Journal of Physical Science (London: Henry Gillman) XXIX (755), http://books.google.com/?id=jOUEAAAAQAAJ 

External links

• Train times and station information for Salford Central railway station from National Rail

Salford Lines (Past, present and future)

Legend To Wigan To Bolton Little Hulton To Wigan Ellenbrook;Walkden Low Level Walkden High Level To Warrington Moorside; To Bolton Barton Moss;Worsley Swinton;Dixon Fold Patricroft;Monton Green Pendlebury;To Bury Irlams-o'-th'-Height Eccles;Eccles Clifton Junction Ladywell Agecroft Bridge Weaste;Weaste Brindle Heath Jct; Agecroft Jct Langworthy;Seedley Pendleton Bridge MediaCityUK;Broadway Cross Lane; Pendleton Harbour City Salford Crescent Anchorage Salford Docks Salford Quays Windsor Link Exchange Quay Ordsall Lane; Oldfield Road To Manchester (Metrolink) Ordsall Chord (proposed) To Manchester (Deansgate) Salford Central To Manchester (Victoria)

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Salford Crescent		Northern Rail Manchester-Preston Line		Manchester Victoria
Salford Crescent		Northern Rail Ribble Valley Line		Manchester Victoria
Salford Crescent		Northern Rail Manchester-Southport Line		Manchester Victoria
Salford Crescent		Northern Rail Manchester-Kirkby Mondays-Saturdays only		Manchester Victoria
	Historical railways
Oldfield Road Line open, station closed		Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Manchester and Bolton Railway		Manchester Victoria Line and station open