Brighouse railway station
Brighouse | |
---|---|
General information | |
Location | Calderdale |
Coordinates | 53°41′53″N 1°46′44″W / 53.698°N 1.779°W |
Managed by | Northern |
Platforms | 2 |
Other information | |
Station code | BGH |
Fare zone | 4 |
History | |
Original company | Manchester and Leeds Railway |
Pre-grouping | Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway |
Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
Key dates | |
1840 | opened |
1970 | closed |
2000 | reopened |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Brighouse_%28for_Rastrick%29_Station_1906950.jpg/275px-Brighouse_%28for_Rastrick%29_Station_1906950.jpg)
Brighouse railway station serves the town of Brighouse in West Yorkshire, England. The station lies on the Calder Valley line running west from Leeds. The station reopened in 2000 and is managed by Northern but is also served by Grand Central.
History
Brighouse railway station was first opened on 5 October 1840, as a main line station operated by the Manchester and Leeds Railway. The station was initially known as Brighouse for Bradford, as no stations had yet been built in Bradford itself. Similarly, Elland station served Halifax, and Huddersfield was served by the station at Cooper Bridge.
A lithograph was produced by Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait showing the station in 1845.[1]
In 1847 Brighouse station came under the control of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, when the M&L was incorporated into that company. The station remained under L&Y operation until it was incorporated into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923. The station's importance had gradually declined because other lines connecting Manchester and Leeds were built via Halifax and Huddersfield, bypassing Brighouse.
Brighouse station passed into British Railways ownership upon nationalisation in 1948,[2] and was operated as part of the North Eastern Region. The decline in passenger numbers continued, and the station was eventually closed by British Rail on 5 January 1970, remaining closed for thirty years. The line remained open throughout that time as a freight-only one, but it was also used as a diversionary route for passenger trains when other lines were closed.
Brighouse station reopened on Sunday 28 May 2000. It also serves the town of Elland some 2 miles (3 km) away. Plans for a station in Elland to open at the same time as Brighouse were cancelled due to lack of funds.[3]
On opening the station was served by one train per hour running to Leeds via Halifax and Bradford, and one train per hour in the other direction to Huddersfield. Trains called every two hours on Sundays.
From 27 April 2008 a bus service MC4 provided a connection with most Leeds via Dewsbury trains to/from Elland. This was replaced in early 2010 by a revised service E8.
In December 2008, the service was supplemented by an hourly Leeds - Dewsbury - Hebden Bridge - Manchester Victoria - Southport stopping service (Monday - Saturday daytime only, no late evening or Sunday service). This provided a considerable service improvement providing both a twice-hourly frequency for journeys to/from Leeds and a reduction in journey time taking only 35 minutes to travel to Leeds via Dewsbury rather than 50 minutes via Halifax. Even without this important improvement in services, usage of the station has increased year on year since the reopening. Some services from Leeds terminate at Brighouse and start back from here.
In January 2009, Grand Central had their application for train paths to run a Bradford Interchange (via Halifax) to London service accepted by the Office of Rail Regulation.[4] This service commenced on 23 May 2010.
In May 2018, the Sunday service from Leeds to Huddersfield via Brighouse was doubled in frequency to one per hour in each direction.
Services
As of May 2018 Brighouse is regularly served by two trains per hour to Leeds, one train per hour to Huddersfield and one train per hour to Southport via Hebden Bridge and Manchester Victoria.[5]
The Leeds service includes a faster journey via Dewsbury and a slower journey via Halifax and Bradford Interchange.
On Sundays there is one train per hour to Leeds (via Halifax and Bradford) and one train per hour to Huddersfield, where passengers can change for services to Manchester.
In addition to the regular service pattern, there are four direct return services per day to London King's Cross via Wakefield Kirkgate and Doncaster, including Sundays.
Station facilities
The station has two platforms.
- Platform 1: served by services towards Huddersfield and Leeds (via Dewsbury).
- Platform 2: served by services towards Manchester Victoria, and Leeds (via Halifax and Bradford Interchange).
Northern and Metro secured joint funding from the Department for Transport's Access for All – Small Schemes initiative to provide a new Customer Information System at the station.[6]
New LCD style customer information screens with real-time information have been installed on both platforms linked into an improved public address system providing accurate, reliable audio/visual train running information to passengers.
In addition; Northern has announced plans to replace the station's HelpPoint intercom system with a more updated reliable model. This will enable passengers to speak to a member of staff in Northern's control centre for information or to summon assistance in emergency situations.[7]
Station panorama
References
- ^ "Science and Society Picture Library - Brighouse Station". Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- ^ "Why not... nationalise the railways?". BBC News. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Harris, Nigel, ed. (15–28 May 2013). "Rail group pushes for Elland station". Rail Magazine (722): 17.
- ^ ORR Track Access Applications Decision for ECML Passenger Services - 28 January 2009 ORR Website; Retrieved 29 January 2009
- ^ Table 41 National Rail timetable, May 2018
- ^ Northern Rail Media Centre - New CIS for 22 Stations Northern Rail website; Retrieved 29 January 2009
- ^ WYPTA Working Group Report November 2008[permanent dead link] West Yorkshire Metro website; Retrieved 29 January 2009
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Train times and station information for Brighouse railway station from National Rail
Preceding station | ![]() |
Following station | ||
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Northern Calder Valley line | ||||
Mirfield | Grand Central West Riding |
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Disused railways | ||||
L&YR | ||||
Calderdale Lines |
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Past, present and future
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- Railway stations in Calderdale
- Former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway stations
- Railway stations opened in 1840
- Railway stations closed in 1970
- Railway stations opened in 2000
- Reopened railway stations in Great Britain
- Railway stations served by Grand Central Railway
- Railway stations served by Northern (train operating company)
- Brighouse