Yatton railway station
Encyclopedia
Yatton railway station serves the village of Yatton
in North Somerset
, England
. It is 12 miles (19 km) west of Bristol Temple Meads railway station
on the Bristol to Taunton Line.
on 14 June 1841 as 'Clevedon Road'. The station was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel
with the main station building on the platform for eastbound trains towards Bristol, and a smaller building on the westbound platform. A hotel was provided adjacent to the eastbound platform for people travelling to Clevedon
.
The Clevedon branch line
opened 28 July 1847 when the name of the station was changed to 'Yatton'. A small bay platform was provided at the west end of the eastbound platform for the branch trains and an unusual train shed
with louvre ventilation was provided for shelter. This was replaced in 1956 by a second-hand canopy brought from Dauntsey railway station
. This still stands, but a matching one on the westbound platform has since been removed.
Yatton became even more important on 3 August 1869 when the Cheddar Valley Railway was opened, which became famous for the transport of strawberries
from stations such as Axbridge
and Cheddar
. The line was extended to Wells
on 5 April 1870. This joined there with the East Somerset Railway
line from Witham
(constructed between 1859 and 1862), and through services from Yatton to Witham became normal for this line.
Another bay platform was provided for the Cheddar Valley trains at the west end of the westbound platform, and this was also used by the Wrington Vale Light Railway
trains that shared the Cheddar line as far as Congresbury railway station
from 4 December 1901. Goods traffic was handled alongside this bay platform, but the small engine shed
was situated next to the Clevedon branch.
In the 1920s the main line through Yatton was stretched to capacity and so goods loops were laid either side of the station – east for 1.25 miles to Claverham from 6 April 1925 and west for 1.75 miles to Huish level crossing
on 26 May 1925. The station remained a two-track pinch point. The Claverham loops were closed on 6 September 1964 and the Yatton loops west of the station were cut back to just 0.5 mile from 24 January 1972, although they have since been rebuilt to allow their use by passenger trains.
The branch lines have all closed too: Wrington on 14 September 1931 (although goods traffic continued until 10 June 1963); Cheddar on 9 September 1963 (goods 1 October 1964), and Clevedon on 3 October 1966. Goods traffic at Yatton itself ceased from 29 November 1965.
In the early days of the railway Yatton station was provided to serve Clevedon, and Yatton itself was not considered of much significance. However the arrival of the railway stimulated growth in the village during the Victorian era
and many new houses were built.
Improved train information screens and help-points were installed in the summer of 2011. Automatic ticket and car park machines are situated outside the eastbound entrance. The whole station is non-smoking.
The former Cheddar Valley branch line is now the Strawberry Line railway walk and cycleway. This starts from the far end of the downside/south car park and is popular with dog-walkers also.
. The basic train service comprises two trains in each direction each hour. One service shuttles between and , calling at most stations via Bristol Temple Meads; the second is the faster to service. Some of these services are extended to serve stations such as , and . During the peak period and at weekends, services to and from call at Yatton. Some early morning and weekend services go further afield to destinations such as and .
, Congresbury
, Claverham and Cleeve
leave from near the Market Inn on the main road which crosses the line at the east end of the station. There are also services connecting the station with local destinations towards Bristol
and Weston-super-Mare
.
Yatton
Yatton is a village and civil parish within the unitary authority of North Somerset, which falls within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located south-west of Bristol. Its population in 2001 was 9,176...
in North Somerset
North Somerset
North Somerset is a unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare....
, 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...
. It is 12 miles (19 km) west of Bristol Temple Meads railway station
Bristol Temple Meads railway station
Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
on the Bristol to Taunton Line.
History
The station was opened by the Bristol and Exeter RailwayBristol and Exeter Railway
The Bristol & Exeter Railway was a railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter.The company's head office was situated outside their Bristol station...
on 14 June 1841 as 'Clevedon Road'. The station was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
with the main station building on the platform for eastbound trains towards Bristol, and a smaller building on the westbound platform. A hotel was provided adjacent to the eastbound platform for people travelling to Clevedon
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
.
The Clevedon branch line
Clevedon branch line
The Clevedon branch line was a branch railway line that ran from Yatton railway station on the Bristol to Taunton Line to Clevedon in North Somerset, England, with no intermediate stops....
opened 28 July 1847 when the name of the station was changed to 'Yatton'. A small bay platform was provided at the west end of the eastbound platform for the branch trains and an unusual train shed
Train shed
A train shed is an adjacent building to a railway station where the tracks and platforms are covered by a roof. It is also known as an overall roof...
with louvre ventilation was provided for shelter. This was replaced in 1956 by a second-hand canopy brought from Dauntsey railway station
Dauntsey railway station
Dauntsey railway station served the village of Dauntsey, Wiltshire from 1869 to 1965. It was situated on the Great Western Main Line which runs from London to Bristol....
. This still stands, but a matching one on the westbound platform has since been removed.
Yatton became even more important on 3 August 1869 when the Cheddar Valley Railway was opened, which became famous for the transport of strawberries
Strawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
from stations such as Axbridge
Axbridge railway station
Axbridge railway station was a station on the Bristol and Exeter Railway's Cheddar Valley line in Axbridge, Somerset. Axbridge was one of the principal stations for the transport of strawberries, which led to the line's alternative name as The Strawberry Line....
and Cheddar
Cheddar railway station
Cheddar railway station was a station on the Bristol and Exeter Railway's Cheddar Valley line in Cheddar, Somerset. The station had substantial goods traffic based on the locally-grown strawberries, which led to the line's alternative name as The Strawberry Line.-History:The station was opened as...
. The line was extended to Wells
Wells (Tucker Street) railway station
Wells railway station was the second terminus station on the Bristol and Exeter Railway's Cheddar Valley line in Somerset after the extension from the first terminus at Cheddar was opened...
on 5 April 1870. This joined there with the East Somerset Railway
East Somerset Railway
The East Somerset Railway is a heritage railway in Somerset, running between Cranmore and Mendip Vale. Prior to the Beeching Axe, the railway ran from Witham to Wells, meeting both the Cheddar Valley line and Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway at the latter station.- History :The line was...
line from Witham
Witham (Somerset) railway station
Witham railway station was a station serving the Somerset village of Witham Friary and was located on the Frome to Yeovil section of the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway that opened in 1856...
(constructed between 1859 and 1862), and through services from Yatton to Witham became normal for this line.
Another bay platform was provided for the Cheddar Valley trains at the west end of the westbound platform, and this was also used by the Wrington Vale Light Railway
Wrington Vale Light Railway
The Wrington Vale Light Railway was a railway from Congresbury on the Cheddar Valley line to Blagdon, and serving villages in the Yeo Valley, North Somerset...
trains that shared the Cheddar line as far as Congresbury railway station
Congresbury railway station
Congresbury railway station was a station at Congresbury on the Bristol and Exeter Railway's Cheddar Valley line in Somerset and the junction for the Wrington Vale Light Railway to Blagdon....
from 4 December 1901. Goods traffic was handled alongside this bay platform, but the small engine shed
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
was situated next to the Clevedon branch.
In the 1920s the main line through Yatton was stretched to capacity and so goods loops were laid either side of the station – east for 1.25 miles to Claverham from 6 April 1925 and west for 1.75 miles to Huish level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
on 26 May 1925. The station remained a two-track pinch point. The Claverham loops were closed on 6 September 1964 and the Yatton loops west of the station were cut back to just 0.5 mile from 24 January 1972, although they have since been rebuilt to allow their use by passenger trains.
The branch lines have all closed too: Wrington on 14 September 1931 (although goods traffic continued until 10 June 1963); Cheddar on 9 September 1963 (goods 1 October 1964), and Clevedon on 3 October 1966. Goods traffic at Yatton itself ceased from 29 November 1965.
In the early days of the railway Yatton station was provided to serve Clevedon, and Yatton itself was not considered of much significance. However the arrival of the railway stimulated growth in the village during the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
and many new houses were built.
Layout
The area on both sides of the station where the bay platforms were are now used as car parks. Brunel's main station building was refurbished in 2006 and is still in use for selling tickets. Following a successful fundraising campaign by local people, the redundant westbound building is now a community cafe, which also provides training places for adults with learning disabilities. The hotel is still operating as a pub. An active group of "friends" have renovated the station gardens and are hoping that the roof of the footbridge that links the two platforms will one day be restored.Improved train information screens and help-points were installed in the summer of 2011. Automatic ticket and car park machines are situated outside the eastbound entrance. The whole station is non-smoking.
The former Cheddar Valley branch line is now the Strawberry Line railway walk and cycleway. This starts from the far end of the downside/south car park and is popular with dog-walkers also.
Rail services
The station is managed and all trains are operated by First Great WesternFirst Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
. The basic train service comprises two trains in each direction each hour. One service shuttles between and , calling at most stations via Bristol Temple Meads; the second is the faster to service. Some of these services are extended to serve stations such as , and . During the peak period and at weekends, services to and from call at Yatton. Some early morning and weekend services go further afield to destinations such as and .
Bus services
Bus service 660 to PortisheadPortishead, Somerset
Portishead is a coastal town on the Severn Estuary within the unitary authority of North Somerset, which falls within the ceremonial county of Somerset England. It has a population of 22,000, an increase of over 3,000 since the 2001 census, with a growth rate of 40 per cent, considerably in excess...
, Congresbury
Congresbury
Congresbury is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is situated in the Unitary authority of North Somerset, and in 2001 had a population of 3,400. It lies on the A370, roughly equidistant between Junction 21 of the M5 and Bristol Airport, approximately south of Bristol city centre,...
, Claverham and Cleeve
Cleeve, Somerset
Cleeve is a village and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is situated within the unitary authority of North Somerset, south west of Bristol and has a population of 941 .-History:...
leave from near the Market Inn on the main road which crosses the line at the east end of the station. There are also services connecting the station with local destinations towards Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
.