Maiden Newton railway station

Maiden Newton National Rail
Location
Place Maiden Newton
Local authority West Dorset
Coordinates 50°46′48″N 2°34′08″W / 50.780°N 2.569°W / 50.780; -2.569Coordinates: 50°46′48″N 2°34′08″W / 50.780°N 2.569°W / 50.780; -2.569
Grid reference SY599979
Operations
Station code MDN
Managed by Great Western Railway
Number of platforms 2
DfT category F1
Live arrivals/departures, station information and onward connections
from National Rail Enquiries
Annual rail passenger usage*
2002/03   22,133
2004/05 Decrease 17,635
2005/06 Increase 18,252
2006/07 Decrease 16,462
2007/08 Increase 17,600
2008/09 Increase 22,070
2009/10 Increase 22,680
2010/11 Increase 23,058
2011/12 Decrease 19,652
2012/13 Increase 21,242
2013/14 Decrease 20,258
2014/15 Increase 21,670
History
Original company Great Western Railway
1857 Opened
1975 Bridport branch closed
National Rail – UK railway stations
* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Maiden Newton from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year.
UK Railways portal

Maiden Newton railway station is a railway station serving the village of Maiden Newton in Dorset, England. The station is located on the Heart of Wessex line between Castle Cary and Weymouth.

History

The old signal box

Opened on 20 January 1857 by the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway with the section of their route from Yeovil Pen Mill to Weymouth. This completed their main line from Chippenham to Weymouth, the first part of which had opened in 1848. The railway was a part of the larger Great Western Railway which meant that through trains ran from London Paddington station.[1]

The station consisted of two platforms with a flint station building and goods shed at the south end. A signal box was added later.

From 1857 to 1975 the station was the junction for the Bridport Railway and an extra bay platform was added at the north end of the station for these trains. This can still be seen at the west end of the station and this end of the trackbed is a footpath and cycleway.

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Cattistock   Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway   Grimstone and Frampton
Terminus   Bridport Railway   Toller

Description

Looking north

Although the signal box was closed during a rationalisation scheme, the station retains two platforms as it is a passing place on the single line between Dorchester and Yeovil. The entrance is on the northbound platform, the side closest to the village. Access to the southbound platform is normally by the footbridge but there is a level crossing at the south end of the station for passengers who are unable to use the bridge. The station building survives but is no longer used by the railway.

The electric key token instrument for the block section to Yeovil are now operated by the train crew under the supervision of the signal operator based at Yeovil Pen Mill. The block section to Dorchester West is operated under the 'tokenless single line' principle with track circuiting.

Services

The station is served by Great Western Railway. Services originate from Gloucester and Bristol Temple Meads (apart from one early morning service from Westbury) and are operated by Class 150, Class 153 or Class 158 diesel multiple units. Eight trains in each direction call Mondays to Saturdays and three each way on Sundays all year (plus two additional trains in the summer months).

Preceding station National Rail Following station
Chetnole   Great Western Railway
Heart of Wessex Line		   Dorchester West

References

  1. ↑ MacDermot, E T (1927). History of the Great Western Railway. 1 (1833-1863) (1 ed.). London: Great Western Railway.

Further reading

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External links

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