| Whitchurch Town | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Place | Whitchurch |
| Area | Basingstoke and Deane |
| Grid reference | SU459479 |
| Operations | |
| Original company | Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway |
| Post-grouping | Great Western Railway |
| Platforms | 2 |
| History | |
| 4 May 1885 | Opened as Whitchurch |
| 1 July 1924 | Renamed Whitchurch (Hants) |
| 4 August 1942 | Closed |
| 8 March 1943 | Re-opened as Whitchurch (Hants) |
| 26 September 1949 | Renamed Whitchurch Town |
| 7 March 1960 | Closed to passengers |
| 6 May 1963 | Closed to goods |
| Disused railway stations in the United Kingdom | |
| Closed railway stations in Britain A B C D–F G H–J K–L M–O P–R S T–V W–Z |
|
Whitchurch Town railway station served the town of Whitchurch, Hampshire, England between 1885 and 1960.
Contents |
The Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway (DN&S) was opened in stages. The section between Enborne Junction (to the west of Newbury) and Winchester was formally opened on 1 May 1885, public services beginning on 4 May; among the original stations was one named Whitchurch.[1][2][3] It was 12 miles 57 chains (20.5 km) from Enborne Junction, and 31 miles 64 chains (51.2 km) from Didcot.[4]
Whitchurch was already served by one railway station on the LSWR which survives to this day. The DNSR had a choice of connecting to the LSWR and building a station nearby to aid interchange traffic. However, it decided to build the station further south, closer to the town.[5][6] The station was relatively large compared to others on this section of the line including a larger station building on the northbound platform and a subway to link the two platforms. There was also a long passing loop and three sidings complete with a large goods shed. The station also boasted a water crane and water tower.[2]
The DN&S was worked by the Great Western Railway (GWR), and at the 1923 Grouping, the DN&S was absorbed by the GWR.[7] The GWR had other stations also named Whitchurch, and to distinguish them, most were renamed: this one became Whitchurch (Hants) on 1 July 1924.[1]
Like other stations on the former DN&S line, Whitchurch (Hants) station was closed temporarily on 4 August 1942 so that the line could be upgraded for wartime freight trains; it reopened on 8 March 1943.[1][8]
Following the nationalisation of the railways in 1948, British Railways renamed the station Whitchurch Town on 26 September 1949, a name which it retained until closure to passengers on 7 March 1960.[1] Goods services continued, but these ceased as from 6 May 1963.[2]
| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Litchfield Line and station closed |
Great Western Railway Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway |
Barton Stacey Line and station closed |
||