LANCASTER
(All © Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing 8.8.1984)
Results of a couple of hours photographing at this busy WCML station back in 1984. Note corporate blue in abundance and a couple of appearances of the prototype APT tilting train tilting, together with first generation DMUs, classic electrics, class 31 and class 47.
More info (from Wikipedia)
Lancaster railway station (formerly known as Lancaster Castle railway station) is a railway station that serves the city of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. It is one of the principal stations on the West Coast Main Line.
History
Originally known as 'Lancaster Castle Station' in order to distinguish it from the first Lancaster Station (1840–1849), Lancaster station was officially opened on 21 September 1846. The first public service ran into the station on 17 December the same year. The station was built as the southern terminus of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway after the initial planned route for the line - which would have followed the Lancaster Canal and crossing the River Lune from Ladies Walk to Skerton - was changed in favour of a cheaper route west of the city.
The station was remodelled in 1900-1906 when additional lines and platforms were added and further station buildings constructed.[2] The new buildings were styled mock-Elizabethan with the intention of mirroring the battlements of the nearbyLancaster Castle. Platforms 5 and 6 (on the east side of the station) were electrified in 1908 to serve the now-closedMidland Railway route to Morecambe and Heysham. This line closed in January 1966 and the overhead line equipment was removed.
The track layout in the station area was rationalised in 1973 when control of the signalling was transferred to the new Preston Power Signal Box. This included the removal of the track from Platform 6, although this platform had seen no regular use for some time prior to this. The West Coast Main Line through Lancaster was electrified in 1974, and regular electric passenger services recommenced at the station 7 May 1974.
Description
The main building constructed in 1846 by William Tite was situated on the west side of the line in Tudor Revival style using roughly squared sandstone rubble. This two-storey building was extended southwards in 1852 in similar style although this section terminated in a tower of three storeys. A new entrance was constructed in 1900 on the eastern side of the line at footbridge level; this is nearer the town and houses the remaining ticket office.
The entrance through the original building remains open. This opens onto Platform 3 which is mostly used by northbound services. Two bay platforms to the north of this are used by terminating trains off the various branches to Heysham Port, Barrow-in-Furness and Leeds.
Two lines without platforms separate these three platforms from the remainder of the station; these are used by non-stop passenger services and freight trains. Beyond is Platform 4, which is the principal one used by southbound trains. This is an island platform with a second face, Platform 5, which can be used by southbound trains or by terminating services. All platforms are signalled for arrivals and departures in either direction. Opposite Platform 5 are the remains of Platform 6 which has no track and has been out of use for many years.
Services
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Lancaster is served by several train operators.
Virgin Trains operate express trains from London Euston to Glasgow Central using Pendolino trains, and fromLondon Euston to Glasgow and Edinburgh via Birmingham New Street using Virgin Super Voyager or Virgin Pendolino trains. Early morning or late evening services to/from Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central or Carlisle or Lancaster start or terminate at Birmingham New Street and peak services to and from London terminate and start at Lancaster or Carlisle. A few services to/from Crewe also terminate/start at Lancaster. These services normally use platforms 3 and 4.
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First TransPennine Express operate regional express services from Manchester Airport and Preston to Barrow-in-Furnessvia the Furness Line and Windermere via the Windermere Branch Line using Class 185 DMU's, and from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh and Glasgow via the West Coast Main Line using Class 350 EMUs. These services also use platforms 3 and 4.
Northern Rail operate local services, along the Furness Line to Barrow-in-Furness, the Morecambe Branch Line to Morecambe and Heysham and the Leeds to Morecambe Line to Skipton and Leeds. They also operate a single weekday service to/from Buxton and Hazel Grove. These services are operated using diesel multiple units of Classes 142, 150, 153 and 156, and normally use platforms 1, 2 and 5.
| Annual rail passenger usage* | |
|---|---|
| 2004/05 | 1.270 million |
| 2005/06 |  1.317 million |
| 2006/07 | 1.396 million |
| 2007/08 | 1.498 million |
| 2008/09 | 1.559 million |
| 2009/10 | 1.656 million |
| 2010/11 | 1.788 million |
| 2011/12 | 1.834 million |
| 2012/13 | 1.850 million |
| 2013/14 | 1.915 million |
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