Bedford railway station

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Bedford
Bedford railway station
Location
Place Bedford
Local authority Borough of Bedford
Operations
Managed by First Capital Connect
Platforms in use 5
Annual Passenger Usage
2004/05 ** 2.770 million
History
Key dates Opened 1978 (current station)
National Rail - UK railway stations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T
U V W X Y Z  
Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Bedford.
Portal:Bedford railway station
 UK Rail Portal
A Class 150 DMU awaiting departure for Bletchley on Platform 1a.
A Class 150 DMU awaiting departure for Bletchley on Platform 1a.

Bedford railway station is the main railway station in the town of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. It is located on the Midland Main Line from London St Pancras to the East Midlands. It is also the terminus of the Marston Vale line from Bletchley through Bedford St. Johns. The station is also known as Bedford Midland, and is situated to the west of the town centre. It is used by a substantial number of commuters to London.

The previous Bedford Midland station was built by the Midland Railway in 1859 originally on its line to join the Great Northern at Hitchin. It was situated on land known as "Freemen's Common" approximately 200 yards south of the current station on Ashburnham Road.

The LNWR also had a station on its line (now closed) between Bletchley and Cambridge. The Midland crossed it on the level but there was a serious collision when an LNWR train passed a red signal. Curiously, it transpired at the enquiry that that both drivers were named John Perkins. Following this accident, the Midland built a flyover in 1885.

The extension to St. Pancras was opened in 1868. The connection to Hitchin is long gone, but the line north of Bedford is still officially referred to as the Leicester to Hitchin line. At this time the station was substantially altered, with the replacement of a level crossing by the Queen's Park overbridge. In 1890 a curve was added to the west to allow expresses to by pass the station.

Serious damage occurred during World War II when a bomb destroyed the booking hall's glass ceiling. The current station was built to replace it in 1978, the three main platforms being aligned on a curve to meet the old 1890's avoiding lines.

Although the intention was for what remained of the old awnings to be transferred to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley in Derbyshire it proved impossible to save them. All that remains of the original is a bay with a few buildings at the southern end.

Contents

[edit] Services

The station is served by three operators.

The typical off peak service from Bedford is as follows:

[edit] Facilities

The metal and glass structure of the main station building, viewed from the car park.
The metal and glass structure of the main station building, viewed from the car park.

Bedford station has the following facilities:

  • 2 waiting rooms
  • Cafe/newsagent/bar and coffee bar
  • Telephones
  • Post box
  • ATM
  • Toilets
  • Car park with 614 spaces

Bedford station is fully wheelchair-accessible.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


Preceding station National Rail Following station
Luton   Midland Mainline
Midland Main Line		   Wellingborough
Bedford St Johns   Silverlink County
Marston Vale Line
Mondays-Saturdays only		   Terminus
Flitwick   First Capital Connect
Thameslink		   Terminus
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