Wednesbury Town railway station
Encyclopedia
Wednesbury Town railway station was a station on the South Staffordshire Line
.
, which later became London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(through amalgamation of the London and North Western Railway
). The line had reasonable passenger usage until about the early 1880’s, when it began to slump at several stations, leading to the line becoming a largely freight only operation in 1887. It would remain open for goods traffic, which was considerable at this time, as the district had become highly industrialised in the then heyday of the Black Country
's industrial past.
As the local industry declined and road transport became more common, the station entered a post-World War II
decline.
The station was known as Wednesbury until it was renamed Wednesbury 'town' in 1950 as part of nationalisation. British Rail
closed the station through the Beeching Axe
in 1964 due to lack of freight and passenger custom.
While the electrification of the West Coast Main Line
was underway the former GWR line did see a large increase in its traffic and a reopening of the station appear likely, but once the West Coast Main Line
had been re-reopened the diverted trains were removed and the additional services quickly reduced. The last Paddington
to Birkenhead
express train
ran on the line in March 1967, which closed to passenger services as a whole by 1970.
The station buildings were demolished shortly after their closure, but the platform remains intact more than 40 years on. The signal box was still in use when the Walsall-Round Oak section of the line closed in March 1993, but it was destroyed by arson
ists sometime afterwards.
waste disposal plant by 2010. The plant has been built at least 10 years earlier in one of the station car parks, while the buildings of several small enterprises occupy the other side.
, Dudley Port railway station
, Dudley railway station
and the Merry Hill Shopping Centre
for trams on one track and for freight on the other. The freighters would continue on part Brettell Lane railway station
and on to the mainline at Stourbridge Junction.
In March 2011, the business plan for the reopening of the line between Stourbridge and Walsall was submitted to Network Rail. Trams would run along the South Staffordshire line through Wednesbury and Dudley, sharing the line with freight trains
South Staffordshire Line
The South Staffordshire Line was a railway line that connected Lichfield in Staffordshire, England with Dudley, formerly in Worcestershire. However, it joined the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway's line just north of Dudley Station, where it, in essence, continued to Stourbridge, in...
.
History
It was opened in 1850. The station was built and served by the South Staffordshire RailwaySouth Staffordshire Railway
The South Staffordshire Railway was the railway company responsible for building several lines in and around the area of Staffordshire, England.The Chief Engineer was John Robinson McClean...
, which later became London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
(through amalgamation of the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
). The line had reasonable passenger usage until about the early 1880’s, when it began to slump at several stations, leading to the line becoming a largely freight only operation in 1887. It would remain open for goods traffic, which was considerable at this time, as the district had become highly industrialised in the then heyday of the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
's industrial past.
As the local industry declined and road transport became more common, the station entered a post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
decline.
The station was known as Wednesbury until it was renamed Wednesbury 'town' in 1950 as part of nationalisation. British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
closed the station through the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
in 1964 due to lack of freight and passenger custom.
While the electrification of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
was underway the former GWR line did see a large increase in its traffic and a reopening of the station appear likely, but once the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
had been re-reopened the diverted trains were removed and the additional services quickly reduced. The last Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
to Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
express train
Express train
Express trains are a form of rail service. Express trains make only a small number of stops, instead of stopping at every single station...
ran on the line in March 1967, which closed to passenger services as a whole by 1970.
The station buildings were demolished shortly after their closure, but the platform remains intact more than 40 years on. The signal box was still in use when the Walsall-Round Oak section of the line closed in March 1993, but it was destroyed by arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
ists sometime afterwards.
Today's usage
The station ruins were fenced off and partly built over by a growing BiffaBiffa
Biffa Waste Services is one of the UK's largest integrated waste management businesses, providing collection, landfill, recycling and special waste services to local authorities and industrial and commercial clients.-History:...
waste disposal plant by 2010. The plant has been built at least 10 years earlier in one of the station car parks, while the buildings of several small enterprises occupy the other side.
Midland Metro
A £1,100,000/15 year long regeneration project will see the station become part of the local tram network with the line reopening between WalsallWalsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, Dudley Port railway station
Dudley Port railway station
-History:There was a Low Level Station on the former South Staffordshire line that had opened in 1850. The line had reasonable passenger usage until about the early 1880s, when it began to slump at several stations, leading to the line becoming a largely freight only operation in 1887...
, Dudley railway station
Dudley railway station
Dudley Railway Station was a passenger railway station located at Dudley, England, built where the Oxford-Worcester-Wolverhampton Line and the South Staffordshire Line diverged to Wolverhampton and Walsall and Lichfield respectively.-History:...
and the Merry Hill Shopping Centre
Merry Hill Shopping Centre
Westfield Merry Hill is a shopping centre in Brierley Hill near Dudley, West Midlands, England. It was developed between 1985 and 1990, with several expansion and renovation projects taking place since. The original developers and owners were Richardson Developments but the Centre has had a number...
for trams on one track and for freight on the other. The freighters would continue on part Brettell Lane railway station
Brettell Lane railway station
-Brettell Lane railway station:Brettell Lane railway station was a station on the Oxford-Worcester-Wolverhampton Line built to serve the communities between Brierley Hill and Stourbridge in England.-History:...
and on to the mainline at Stourbridge Junction.
In March 2011, the business plan for the reopening of the line between Stourbridge and Walsall was submitted to Network Rail. Trams would run along the South Staffordshire line through Wednesbury and Dudley, sharing the line with freight trains