Gainsborough Central railway station
Encyclopedia
Gainsborough Central railway station is a railway station in the town of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
, England
. The town's other station is the busier Gainsborough Lea Road
. Until recently, the station was shown to be one of the least busy in the country as trains only call there one day a week.
In the Strategic Rail Authority
's 2002/3 financial year, only 5 fare-paying people (excluding season ticket holders) boarded trains at Gainsborough Central station, and 3 disembarked, making it the least busy station in the United Kingdom
, with Barry Links
. The 2004/05 figures suggested 21 passengers used the station that year, putting it slightly below Watford West a station closed since 1996 and on a line which is currently missing both track and bridges.
The real figure for Gainsborough Central was much higher as some tickets can be purchased to "Gainsborough stations" and these journeys are credited to Lea Road
, as the group station
. Following changes to the system for counting ticket sales, the 2006/7 financial year counted over 30,000 users of the station.
The station was opened by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
(MS&LR) on 2 April 1849. The opening day was a gala occasion, shops were closed and the town was full of visitors. The station off Spring Gardens was crowded with onlookers, and at noon the train whistle was heard in the distance. Some hundreds of people saw 'a veritable locomotive on a line of railway at Gainsborough' for the first time. It came over the track by a wooden trestle bridge across the Humble Carr and backed into the station. The directors of the line and the chief engineer were greeted by leading inhabitants and then went in procession to the old coaching inn, the White Hart, for a champagne lunch.
The MS&LR became the Great Central Railway
(GCR) on 1 August 1897, which in turn amalgamated with other railways to form the London and North Eastern Railway
(LNER) at the end of 1922. The LNER inherited two stations in Gainsborough, and to distinguish them, the ex-GCR station was renamed Gainsborough Central in September 1923, The station buildings were demolished in 1975, leaving just the two platforms and a footbridge over the two railway lines.
The line through the station has recently been upgraded and refurbished to allow it to carry increased levels of freight traffic from the port complex at Immingham
to South Yorkshire and the East Midlands. This has been done to reduce congestion on the busy route via Scunthorpe
.
In late 2008, a new carpark was opened next to the station. Good access is available even for the disabled. One takes the road Spring Gardens to the side of Marshalls Yard Shopping Centre entrance.
.
North Lincolnshire Council is, however, campaigning to increase this to an hourly service in each direction.
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The town's other station is the busier Gainsborough Lea Road
Gainsborough Lea Road railway station
Gainsborough Lea Road railway station is the major station in the town of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England. The town's other station is Gainsborough Central...
. Until recently, the station was shown to be one of the least busy in the country as trains only call there one day a week.
In the Strategic Rail Authority
Strategic Rail Authority
In existence from 2001 to 2006, the Strategic Rail Authority was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom set up under the Transport Act 2000 to provide strategic direction for the railway industry....
's 2002/3 financial year, only 5 fare-paying people (excluding season ticket holders) boarded trains at Gainsborough Central station, and 3 disembarked, making it the least busy station in the United Kingdom
Rail transport in Great Britain
The railway system in Great Britain is the oldest in the world, with the world's first locomotive-hauled public railway opening in 1825. As of 2010, it consists of of standard gauge lines , of which are electrified. These lines range from single to double, triple, quadruple track and up to twelve...
, with Barry Links
Barry Links railway station
Barry Links railway station is a railway station serving the village of Barry, west of Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line.- History :...
. The 2004/05 figures suggested 21 passengers used the station that year, putting it slightly below Watford West a station closed since 1996 and on a line which is currently missing both track and bridges.
The real figure for Gainsborough Central was much higher as some tickets can be purchased to "Gainsborough stations" and these journeys are credited to Lea Road
Gainsborough Lea Road railway station
Gainsborough Lea Road railway station is the major station in the town of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England. The town's other station is Gainsborough Central...
, as the group station
Station groups
In the ticketing system of the British rail network, tickets are normally issued to and from individual stations. In some instances, when there is more than one station in a town or other locality—especially where these are on different routes—it may be desirable for passengers to be able to...
. Following changes to the system for counting ticket sales, the 2006/7 financial year counted over 30,000 users of the station.
The station was opened by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway was formed by amalgamation in 1847. The MS&LR changed its name to the Great Central Railway in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension.-Origin:...
(MS&LR) on 2 April 1849. The opening day was a gala occasion, shops were closed and the town was full of visitors. The station off Spring Gardens was crowded with onlookers, and at noon the train whistle was heard in the distance. Some hundreds of people saw 'a veritable locomotive on a line of railway at Gainsborough' for the first time. It came over the track by a wooden trestle bridge across the Humble Carr and backed into the station. The directors of the line and the chief engineer were greeted by leading inhabitants and then went in procession to the old coaching inn, the White Hart, for a champagne lunch.
The MS&LR became the Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
(GCR) on 1 August 1897, which in turn amalgamated with other railways to form the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
(LNER) at the end of 1922. The LNER inherited two stations in Gainsborough, and to distinguish them, the ex-GCR station was renamed Gainsborough Central in September 1923, The station buildings were demolished in 1975, leaving just the two platforms and a footbridge over the two railway lines.
The line through the station has recently been upgraded and refurbished to allow it to carry increased levels of freight traffic from the port complex at Immingham
Immingham
Immingham is a town in North East Lincolnshire, located on the south bank of the Humber Estuary...
to South Yorkshire and the East Midlands. This has been done to reduce congestion on the busy route via Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe railway station
Scunthorpe railway station serves the town of Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire, England. The station is located a short walk from the town centre, on Station Road....
.
Location
Gainsborough Central station was situated close to Gainsborough steel stock holders (since moved) and the new Marshalls Yard Shopping Centre. However, to get to it, one must walk down two roads: a road leading to the former steel stocks and a service road made out of loose stone.In late 2008, a new carpark was opened next to the station. Good access is available even for the disabled. One takes the road Spring Gardens to the side of Marshalls Yard Shopping Centre entrance.
Services
The present service comprises just three trains per week each way on Saturdays only between Sheffield and CleethorpesCleethorpes railway station
Cleethorpes railway station is a rail terminus serving the seaside town of Cleethorpes in North East Lincolnshire. The station is operated by First TransPennine Express, and is also served by Northern Rail and East Midlands Trains....
.
North Lincolnshire Council is, however, campaigning to increase this to an hourly service in each direction.