Chester railway station
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| Chester | |||
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|---|---|---|---|
| Location | |||
| Place | Chester | ||
| Local authority | Chester | ||
| Operations | |||
| Station code | CTR | ||
| Managed by | Arriva Trains Wales | ||
| Platforms in use | 9 | ||
| Live departures and station information from National Rail | |||
| Annual Rail Passenger Usage | |||
| 2004/05 * | 2.239 million | ||
| 2005/06 * | 2.337 million | ||
| Passenger Transport Executive | |||
| PTE | Merseytravel (for Merseyrail services only) | ||
| Zone | G1 | ||
| History | |||
| 1848 1972 |
Opened Chester General rail crash |
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| National Rail - UK railway stations | |||
| * Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Chester from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. | |||
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Chester railway station is a railway station in the city of Chester, England. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although Merseyrail, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains also run services there. It is situated to the north-east of the city centre. From 1875 to 1969 it was known as Chester General station.
A frequent and free City-Rail bus service operates between the railway station and the city centre. At one time it was necessary to show a valid ticket when boarding this service. However, since the introduction of Arriva Trains Wales operated ticket barriers the city centre bound service is now completely free. A 50p single fare is still charged for the station bound journey unless a valid return rail ticket or pass is shown.
Work is in progress on a £10 million regeneration of the station and surrounding areas as part of the Chester Renaissance programme.[1] The development includes a new roof, improved customer facilities and better access to the station.
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[edit] History
Historically, Chester General station was a joint station between the Chester and Holyhead Railway, the Chester and Crewe Railway and the Chester and Birkenhead Railway. Later these became the London and North Western Railway and the Great Western Railway. The station dates from 1848, having an Italianate frontage designed by Francis Thompson. The station also has carved wooden owls at some strategic locations high in the roof beams to help deter feral pigeons.
From 1875, Chester was also served by Chester Northgate station (owned by the Cheshire Lines Committee); however, that station was closed in 1969 and is now the site of a leisure centre.
In 1972, the Chester General rail crash occurred in the station, causing severe damage to the building and the several trains involved.
[edit] Services
Chester lies on the North Wales Coast Line, which is served by two trains an hour operated by Arriva Trains Wales. Trains from Crewe and Cardiff alternately provide an hourly service to Bangor and Holyhead. From Manchester Piccadilly Arriva operate an hourly service to Llandudno. Arriva operate two trains per hour between Chester and Crewe.
Virgin Trains operate services from London Euston via the West Coast Main Line to Llandudno (one daily) and Holyhead (four daily). Virgin recently announced plans for an hourly service from Chester to London, with some services running beyond Chester to Holyhead and the remaining services terminating at Chester.
Arriva Trains Wales also operate the Shrewsbury to Chester Line, with trains to Wrexham and Shrewsbury approximately every hour. Alternate trains continue beyond Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street, and to Cardiff Central.
Chester is also the terminus of the Mid-Cheshire Line from Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport via Northwich.
The historic Chester and Birkenhead Railway is now a branch of Merseyrail's Wirral Line from Liverpool and Birkenhead. These Merseyrail services use third rail electrification and at Chester operate exclusively from platform 7b.
There are also proposals under consideration to reinstate a regular passenger service along the Halton Curve south of Runcorn railway station, which would permit the re-introduction of through trains from Liverpool to the North Wales Coast.
In mid 2005, Arriva Trains Wales announced a plan to improve the condition of the station, as Chester General had been well known for its neglected appearance. The planned modifications include improvements to ticketing facilities, a general clean up of the platforms, and the installation of ticket barriers. The first of these improvements to be implemented was the ticket barriers, which came into operation July 2006.
The station marks one end of the Baker Way, a footpath leading to Delamere railway station.
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[edit] Layout
The station has 7 platforms. Platform 1 is a bay platform located at the east end. This is used mainly by the Chester to Crewe shuttles. Platform 2 is another bay platform and is located at the western end. This is mainly used by trains heading towards Wrexham and Shrewsbury. Platform 3 is a through platform and is closest to the concourse. This is most commonly used for North Wales bound services and is split into 3a and 3b.
Over the bridge there is access to the island platform. Opposite platform 3 is platform 4, another through platform. This is mainly used for Manchester and Crewe bound services. Some Cardiff bound services also turn back here having arrived from Holyhead. There are two east facing bays at the eastern end (Platforms 5 and 6, for the Mid-Cheshire line) mainly used by Northern Rail. Platform 7 at the northern end is an additional through platform. Platform 7b is used for terminating services on the Wirral Line, and is the only electrified line (3rd rail). Platforms 4 and 7 are also split into 'a' (eastern) and 'b' (western) sections and are thus capable of accommodating two trains at once.
 Platforms on the railway station. |
 Distance board found in some disrepair on a station wall. |
 Carved wooden owl above platform 4 at Chester Railway station |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Chester Renaissance website. Retrieval Date: 10 July 2007.
[edit] External links
- Train times and station information for Chester railway station from National Rail
- Station information from Merseyrail
- Railway Clearing House Diagrams (diagram of railways in Chester from 1903)
- Images of England — details from listed building database (469916)
| Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crewe | Arriva Trains Wales North Wales Coast Line |
Shotton | ||
| Helsby | Arriva Trains Wales Chester to Manchester Line |
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| Wrexham General | Arriva Trains Wales Shrewsbury to Chester Line |
Terminus | ||
| Bache | Merseyrail Wirral Line |
Terminus | ||
| Mouldsworth | Northern Rail Mid-Cheshire Line |
Terminus | ||
| Terminus | Northern Rail Chester to Runcorn (Summer-Saturday only) |
Runcorn | ||
| Crewe | Virgin Trains West Coast Main Line (North Wales) |
Prestatyn | ||
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