Wrexham Central railway station
Wrexham Central Add→{{rail-interchange}} | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Other names | Welsh: Wrecsam Canolog |
| Location | Wrexham |
| Managed by | Arriva Trains Wales |
| Platforms | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Station code | WXC |
| History | |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Original company | Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Great Central Railway |
| Post-grouping | London and North Eastern Railway |
| Key dates | |
| 1 November 1887 | Original station opened |
| 2 November 1895 | Route to Ellesmere opened |
| 10 September 1962 | Route to Ellesmere closed |
| 1998 | Station resited |
Wrexham Central railway station is the smaller of two main railway stations serving the central area of Wrexham in Wales, the other being Wrexham General. 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 (270 yards) to the east. This station closed on 23 November 1998 and has been replaced by another large shopping centre.
History
The original station
The Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway (WMCQ) had opened between Wrexham Exchange and Buckley (old station) on 1 May 1866.[1] A southern extension to a station better situated for the centre of Wrexham was authorised on 18 August 1882;[2] work did not begin until January 1887, and it was opened on 1 November the same year.[3] 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.[3] It was a terminus for several years until the Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway (W&ER) was opened on 2 November 1895.[3] The W&ER was built with financial assistance of the WMCQ and the Cambrian Railways, and operated by the latter, which it joined at Ellesmere.
The line of the former W&ER was a victim of the Beeching cuts, closing on 10 September 1962,[4] 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.
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 (270 yards). 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 Sprinters 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.[citation needed]
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,[5] but further progress is dependent on a favourable business case being put forward and funding secured.[6][7]
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.
Services
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The station has an hourly service to Shotton 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.
References
- ^ Dow, George (1965). Great Central, Volume Three: Fay Sets the Pace, 1900-1922. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 49. ISBN 0 7110 0263 0.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - ^ Dow 1965, p. 62
- ^ a b c Dow 1965, p. 65
- ^ Kidner, R.W. (1992) [1954]. The Cambrian Railways. The Oakwood Library of Railway History (2nd ed.). Headington: Oakwood Press. p. 178. ISBN 0 85361 439 3. OL55.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - ^ Network Rail Business Plan 2007 Accessed 2008-08-15
- ^ Borderland Line Electrification plans Accessed 2008-08-15
- ^ Written Answer by Transport Minister Tom Harris regarding possible future plans for route, March 2007 Accessed 2008-08-15
External links
- Train times and station information for Wrexham Central railway station from National Rail
- the original Wrexham Central at Subterranea Britannica
| Preceding station |  National Rail
|
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrexham General | Arriva Trains Wales Borderlands Line |
Terminus | ||
| Disused railways | ||||
| Terminus | Cambrian Railways Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway |
Marchwiel Line and station closed | ||