Peterborough railway station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article does not cite any references or sources. (May 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
Peterborough | |||
Location | |||
---|---|---|---|
Place | Peterborough | ||
Local authority | Peterborough | ||
Coordinates | Coordinates: | ||
Operations | |||
Managed by | National Express East Coast | ||
Platforms in use | 5 | ||
Annual Rail Passenger Usage | |||
2004/05 * | 3.369 million | ||
2005/06 * | 3.720 million | ||
History | |||
Key dates | Opened August 1850 | ||
National Rail - UK railway stations | |||
* Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Peterborough from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. | |||
|
Peterborough railway station serves the city of Peterborough, England and lies on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). It is a major interchange, as it benefits from having both the north-south ECML, as well as East-West local services. There is on site car parking, a large Royal Mail Sorting Office, and a hotel all within easy reach. Within a few minutes walk is Peterborough city centre, and the Queensgate shopping centre. Peterborough was the first station on the ECML to be electrified. Peterborough consequently has the first mast to be installed as part of the electrification project. This can be found behind platform 1.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Description
The station has a small concourse and ticket office which was redesigned and opened in September 2004. The new facilities were part of GNER’s £10 million station improvement programme to modernise facilities at key stations along the East Coast Main Line. The modern travel centre is part of a £1 million upgrade which includes new passenger lounges on platforms 2 and 3, new toilet facilities on platforms 2, 4 and 5, new customer information screens and improved security including the installation of CCTV cameras within the station and car park. The concourse also has a small shop and cafe.
Platform 1 is the bay platform for First Capital Connect services to and from London Kings Cross. The platform can only accommodate 4 carriage units, because First Capital Connect run most services with a dual 4 carriage combination (8 cars) platform 3 is more frequently used throughout the day.
Platform 2 is predominately used by Southbound National Express East Coast to London Kings Cross
Platform 3 is, as previously stated mostly used by First Capital Connect services to London Kings Cross. It is also used by the hourly service to Spalding & Lincoln, typically operated by class 153 units, it uses the northern part of platform 3, 3B. Although they use platform 2 late at night and early morning.
There are a pair of through tracks between platforms 3 and 4 for non-stop passenger services. These are used occasionally by National Express East Coast trains, but more commonly by Hull Trains and Grand Central Railway services to Hull and Sunderland.
Platform 4 is the main platform for northbound National Express East Coast services, it is also used often by East Midland and CrossCountry train services.
Platform 5 is the predominant platform for CrossCountry servies to Cambridge, Stansted Airport, Leicester and Birmingham and East Midlands Trains to Norwich and Liverpool, sometimes however Northbound NXEC Services are diverted to platform 5.
Platform 4 & 5 are used in the evening peak a lot by terminating First Capital Connect services from London Kings Cross, this is so they have easy access without crossing the fast lines, to Nene Carriage Sidings located to the south of the station.
There are two freight lines next to platform 5, that are frequently used by the many freight services that pass through Peterborough. Often the freight services will wait on these loops for a clear path onwards. A lot of the freight is to/from Felixstowe but there is a large range.
For general assistance there is a customer information point located on platform 2, as well as customer service offices platform 5 and near the first class waiting room on platform 2. Platforms 3, 4 and 5 are accessible by means of a passenger footbridge, or via the ramp at the far end of platform 2 with staff assistance.
Network Rail has pledged £1.3 million to improve Peterborough station and its surroundings, the move they say is intended to increase passenger numbers. The upgrade plans to include a new platform for the proposed link with the Bedford to Brighton route of First Capital Connect - linking Peterborough with the south including Gatwick Airport. Also another platform specifically for use by trains to and from Cambridge, platforms will also be extended to cater for longer trains. Giving the station a total of 7 platforms.
[edit] Services
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Stevenage | National Express East Coast East Coast Main Line |
Grantham | ||
Whittlesea | National Express East Anglia Ely to Peterborough Line |
Terminus | ||
Whittlesea March on Saturdays Ely on Sundays |
East Midlands Trains Liverpool-Norwich |
Grantham | ||
Terminus | East Midlands Trains Peterborough-Lincoln Line Mondays-Saturdays only |
Spalding | ||
Stamford | CrossCountry Birmingham - Stansted Airport |
Whittlesea or March |
||
towards London King's Cross
|
Great Northern semi-fast | Terminus |
Peterborough is an excellent commuting 'hub'. Between 0640 and 0800 there is roughly a 20 minutely frequency of NXEC express services non-stop to London taking between 45 and 60 minutes. Also there are several extra fast services run by FCC calling only at Huntingdon, St Neots and sometimes Biggleswade, these take around an hour. Recently a 0615 non-stop service to London starting at Peterborough has been introduced over the last year, and even this service is often busy arriving in London at about 0700. In the evening peak services are just as good with lots of departures out of London Stopping at Peterborough.
[edit] Other stations in Peterborough
The original name of Peterborough railway station was Peterborough North to distinguish it from a second station which previously existed called Peterborough East. It was located on Station Road just past the town bridge on the Norwich line. Peterborough East was closed June 6th 1966; the station had 3 platforms however only 1 remains clearly visible.
[edit] See also
|