Kempston Hardwick railway station
Kempston Hardwick | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Location | Bedford |
| Managed by | London Midland |
| Platforms | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Station code | KMH |
| Key dates | |
| 1905 | Opened as Kempston Hardwick Halt |
| 1 January 1917 | Temporarily closed |
| 5 May 1919 | Reopened[1] |
| 15 July 1968 | Became unstaffed[2] |
Kempston Hardwick railway station serves the village of Kempston Hardwick in Bedfordshire, England. It is not to be confused with the nearby town of Kempston. The station has two platforms next to a half-barrier level crossing.
Services
Kempston Hardwick is served by London Midland (previously Silverlink), using 1980s built Class 150 and Class 153 DMUs. One service runs each hour in either direction (except Sundays).[3] The running line through this area has been upgraded to enable the speed limit for passenger trains to increase from 40 to 60 mph.
| Preceding station |  National Rail
|
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Midland Mondays-Saturdays only |
Community Rail Partnership
Kempston Hardwick station, in common with others on the Marston Vale Line, is covered by the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership,[4] which aims to increase use of the line by involving local people.
History
Kempston Hardwick was one of three halts opened by the London and North Western Railway in 1905 between Stewartby and Bedford. Their opening coincided with the introduction of a steam railmotor on the Varsity Line; the station platform initially consisted of wooden sleepers laid at ground level for a carriage length.[5] All three closed as a wartime economy measure during the First World War and two were closed during Second World War, never to reopen, leaving Kempston Hardwick as the only survivor. Its survival can be attributed to its convenient location for the nearby Eastwood's Brickworks which was served from 1928 by a private siding on the up side of the line.[6]
The level crossing alongside the station was once controlled by a crossing keeper who lived in a lodge adjacent to his place of work. This was demolished in the 1960s. The original station buildings have also been demolished following a collision with a lorry carrying bricks.[7]
In 2003, it was reported that Kempston Hardwick was one of the quietest stations in England as only 38 passengers per month were reported to be using it. Two reasons offered for the lack of custom were the absence of signage indicating the station from the main road, and the lack of parking facilities.[8] Following the release of this story, Silverlink together with Bedfordshire County Council confirmed that they would not be seeking the closure of the station.[9] Station patronage has, however, now increased, according to the Community Rail Partnership which attributes the rise to the creation of significant numbers of jobs in the area.[10] In 2008, it was announced that the area around the railway station could be the location of a new eco-town.[11]
| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wootton Broadmead Halt | British Railways Varsity Line |
Kempston and Elstow Halt |
References
- ^ Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 130. ISBN 1-85260-508-1.
- ^ Clinker, C.R. (1978). Clinker's Register of Closed Passenger Stations and Goods Depots in England, Scotland and Wales 1830-1977. Bristol: Avon-AngliA Publications & Services. p. 164. ISBN 0-905466-19-5.
- ^ Table 64 National Rail timetable, May 2016
- ^ Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership
- ^ "Kempston Hardwick Halt". Community Archives. Bedfordshire County Council.
- ^ Simpson, Bill (1981). Oxford to Cambridge Railway. Poole: Oxford Publishing Co. p. 69. ISBN 0-86093-121-8.
- ^ Crane, R. (13 May 2002). "The Oxford to Cambridge Line - Then and Now".
- ^ The Guardian, "Platform soul", 21 May 2003
- ^ "Just one train passenger each day". BBC News. 12 May 2003.
- ^ "Bedford to Stewartby". Marston Community Rail.
- ^ "Executive Meeting" (PDF). Mid Bedfordshire District Council. 18 June 2008.
External links
- Train times and station information for Kempston Hardwick railway station from National Rail