Stamford railway station
Stamford railway station serves the town of Stamford in Lincolnshire, England, and is located in St Martin's. The station is 12.5 miles (20 km) west of Peterborough. It was opened by the Syston and Peterborough Railway, part of the present day Birmingham to Peterborough Line. CrossCountry operate the majority of services as part of their Birmingham to Stansted Airport route. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway
| General information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Stamford, South Kesteven England |
| Coordinates | 52°38′53″N 0°28′47″W / 52.6480°N 0.4798°W |
| Grid reference | TF029066 |
| Managed by | East Midlands Railway |
| Platforms | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Station code | SMD |
| Classification | DfT category E |
| History | |
| Original company | Midland Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Midland Railway |
| Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
| Key dates | |
| 1 May 1848 | Opened as Stamford |
| 29 September 1950 | Renamed Stamford Town |
| 18 April 1966 | Renamed Stamford |
| Passengers | |
| 2018/19 | 0.385 million |
| 2019/20 | 0.367 million |
| 2020/21 | 49,894 |
| 2021/22 | 0.227 million |
| 2022/23 | 0.248 million |
| Notes | |
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road | |
The station was formerly known as Stamford Town to distinguish it from the now closed Stamford East station in Water Street. It is often printed on timetables and train tickets as Stamford (Lincs) to distinguish it from either Stamford Hill station in London or Stanford-le-Hope station in Essex.
The station building is a fine stone structure in Mock Tudor style, influenced by the nearby Burghley House, and designed by Sancton Wood.[1] It was upgraded to Grade II* listed building status in March 2020.[2]
Services edit
From Stamford there is generally an hourly service (operated by CrossCountry) each day towards Leicester and Birmingham New Street westbound and Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport eastbound as well as additional PM peak hour services.[3]
Services westbound to Birmingham go via Oakham, Melton Mowbray, Leicester, Narborough, Hinckley, Nuneaton and Coleshill. Services eastbound to Stansted Airport or Cambridge call at Peterborough, March, Ely and Audley End.
Despite managing the station, East Midlands Railway only operates three daily services to the station (mainly for train crew route knowledge purposes); two early morning services to Norwich and a late night service to Nottingham.
| Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrossCountry | ||||
Limited Service | East Midlands Railway Nottingham-Norwich (via Loughborough) Limited Service |
Development edit
This section needs to be updated. (November 2023) |
Birmingham to Stansted Airport service |
|---|
| |
Central Trains undertook internal modifications and refurbishment to the ticket office and booking hall towards the end of their franchise. Network Rail also invested £500,000 on refurbishment of the station building, modern lighting, overbridge and foot crossing to further update the station in late 2007.[4]
In late July 2008, Network Rail was granted listed building consent to make alterations to the then Grade II listed station building to enable larger freight trains of W10 loading gauge to travel on the Peterborough to Nuneaton route. This will involve changes to the platform alignment and the platform canopy and a temporary platform will be provided during the works.[5]
It was planned that both platforms would be extended by up to five metres by no later than 2012.[6]
History edit
Openings edit
Opened by the Midland Railway on its Syston and Peterborough Railway, train services began on 2 October 1846 on the Peterborough to Stamford section, using a temporary station in Water Street, as the tunnel was not complete. The contract for the erection of the permanent station was obtained by Groocock and Yates of Leicester in 1847.[7] The permanent station opened along with through services to Leicester on 20 March 1848.
The London and North Western Railway opened their single track branch line from Rugby via Market Harborough on 2 June 1851. This actually joined the Midland line at Luffenham, but trains generally worked through to Stamford and terminated in the LNWR bay, platform 3, the far side of the current Leicester platform, which is now disused and filled in.
In 1863, the weekday train service comprised 5 each way per day on the Peterborough - Stamford - Leicester route, 3 each way per day on the Stamford - Market Harborough - Rugby route, and 1 each way per day on the Stamford - Market Harborough - Northampton route, including through coaches to London Euston, then known as Euston Square.[8]
The LNWR Rugby line was double tracked in 1878, but in 1879 the LNWR built a new line from Seaton to Wansford on their existing Peterborough to Northampton Nene valley line, and from this time, Rugby to Peterborough was operated as the main line and the Stamford to Seaton section became a branch line, and was singled again in 1907.[9]
Closures edit
Stamford Town in 1922 |
|---|
Through Services |
| |
When Stamford East station closed in 1957, the Stamford to Essendine services were diverted to Town station, but these services ceased in 1959. Some minor stations on the Midland line closed in the 1950s and 1960s and the remaining village stations such as Helpston and Ketton & Collyweston closed in 1966, along with the Seaton branch line from Luffenham.
1970s edit
With the end of steam traction, the service in the 1970s and early 1980s generally comprised a stopping service formed of 2-car DMUs running between Peterborough and Leicester every two hours, supplemented by a two or three times a day Peterborough to Stamford shuttle service. There was also a four or five times daily through Birmingham to Norwich service usually formed by a Class 31 with four or five Mark 1 coaches, these services generally ran non-stop between Peterborough and Leicester.
1980s edit
General goods services in Stamford finished in the late 1960s but the coal yard remained in use until 16 May 1983.
When the coal yard closed, the opportunity was also taken to close the signal box. All pointwork was removed and mechanical signals were replaced by colour lights controlled by Ketton signal box. Ketton signal box was retained due to the need to monitor the level crossing. With no crossover, the Peterborough to Stamford shuttles were for a time reversed at Ketton, before being withdrawn altogether.
With the line to the bay platform lifted, the bay was filled in to form a flowerbed.
1990s edit
In the late 1990s, the toilets were closed, having been the subject of vandalism and variously available since the 1960s. The ticket office is only open in the mornings. The small bicycle rack outside the station was removed.
Summary of former train services edit
| Preceding station | Historical railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketton & Collyweston | Midland Railway Leicester to Peterborough | Uffington & Barnack | ||
| Ketton & Collyweston | London and North Western Railway Seaton branch | Terminus | ||
Timetable for February 1863 edit
The table below shows the train departures from Stamford Town on weekdays in February 1863.[10]
| Departure | Going to | Calling at | Arrival | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06.45 | London Euston Square | Luffenham, Seaton, Rockingham, Medbourne Bridge, Market Harborough, Kelmarsh, Lamport, Brixworth, Brampton, Northampton Castle. Through coaches to Blisworth, Wolverton, Camden, London Euston Square | 10.30 | LNWR |
| 07.10 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Whisendine, Saxby, Melton, Asfordby, Frisby, Brooksby, Rearsby, Syston, Leicester | 09.10 | MR |
| 07.30 | Rugby | Luffenham, Seaton, Rockingham, Medbourne Bridge, Market Harborough, Thedingworth, Welford & Kilworth, Stanford Hall, Lilbourne, Rugby | 09.15 | LNWR |
| 09.03 | Peterborough Great Eastern | Uffington & Barnack, Helpstone, Walton, Peterborough Crescent, Peterborough Great Eastern | 09.40 | MR |
| 10.00 | Rugby | Luffenham, Seaton, Rockingham, Medbourne Bridge, Market Harborough, Thedingworth, Welford & Kilworth, Stanford Hall, Lilbourne, Rugby | 11.45 | LNWR |
| 10.47 | Peterborough Great Eastern | Helpstone, Peterborough Crescent, Peterborough Great Eastern | 11.20 | MR |
| 10.52 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Saxby, Melton, Syston, Leicester | 12.20 | MR |
| 13.10 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Melton, Brooksby, Syston, Leicester | 14.40 | MR |
| 14.11 | Peterborough Great Eastern | Helpstone, Peterborough Crescent, Peterborough Great Eastern | 14.40 | MR |
| 16.23 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Whisendine, Saxby, Melton, Asfordby, Frisby, Brooksby, Rearsby, Syston, Leicester | 18.15 | MR |
| 16.45 | Rugby | Luffenham, Seaton, Rockingham, Medbourne Bridge, Market Harborough, Thedingworth, Welford & Kilworth, Stanford Hall, Lilbourne, Rugby | 18.35 | LNWR |
| 16.47 | Peterborough Great Eastern | Uffington & Barnack, Helpstone, Walton, Peterborough Crescent, Peterborough Great Eastern | 17.25 | MR |
| 20.44 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Saxby, Melton, Brooksby, Syston, Leicester | 22.25 | MR |
| 21.52 | Peterborough Great Eastern | Helpstone, Peterborough Crescent, Peterborough Great Eastern | 22.20 | MR |
Timetable for July 1922 edit
The table below shows the train departures from Stamford Town on weekdays in July 1922.[11]
| Departure | Going to | Calling at | Arrival | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07.35 | Seaton | Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton | 08.03 | LNWR |
| 08.20 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Whissendine, Saxby, Melton Mowbray, Asfordby, Frisby, Brooksby, Rearsby, Syston, Leicester | 10.03 | MR |
| 08.53 | Peterborough East | Uffington & Barnack, Helpston, Walton, Peterborough North, Peterborough East | 09.33 | MR |
| 09.08 | Seaton | Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton | 09.33 | LNWR |
| 09.39 | Oakham | Ketton, Luffenham, Oakham | 10.08 | MR |
| 10.41 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Melton Mowbray, Leicester | 11.56 | MR |
| 10.43 | Peterborough East | Uffington & Barnack, Helpston, Peterborough North, Peterborough East | 11.20 | MR |
| 11.35 | Seaton | Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton | 12.01 | LNWR |
| 11.46 | Peterborough East | Peterborough North, Peterborough East | 12.13 | MR |
| 12.33 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Whissendine, Saxby, Melton Mowbray, Leicester | 14.00 | MR |
| 13.55 | Seaton | Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton | 14.20 | LNWR |
| 14.30 | Peterborough East | Uffington & Barnack, Helpston, Walton, Peterborough North, Peterborough East | 15.08 | MR |
| 16.02 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Whissendine, Saxby, Melton Mowbray, Syston, Leicester | 17.32 | MR |
| 16.15 | Seaton | Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton | 16.40 | LNWR |
| 17.01 | Peterborough East | Uffington & Barnack, Helpston, Walton, Peterborough North, Peterborough East | 17.37 | MR |
| 17.38 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Saxby, Melton Mowbray, Asfordby, Frisby, Brooksby, Rearsby, Syston, Leicester | 19.13 | MR |
| 17.48 | Seaton | Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton | 18.11 | LNWR |
| 18.31 | Peterborough East | Helpston, Peterborough North, Peterborough East | 19.02 | MR |
| 19.43 | Peterborough East | Helpston, Peterborough North, Peterborough East | 20.20 | MR |
| 19.55 | Seaton | Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton | 20.20 | LNWR |
| 20.45 | Leicester | Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Melton Mowbray, Syston, Leicester | 22.08 | MR |
| 22.40 | Peterborough East | Peterborough North, Peterborough East | 20.20 | MR |
Stationmasters edit
In 1853 the station master Thomas Liddell had travelled to Barrowden, intending to return by train but on arriving at Luffenham, he discovered it was too late for the train home. When he got to Ketton, he persuaded a porter to get out a truck, which he proposed to ride home in, thinking that the line from Ketton to Stamford was on a descent, he would be able to travel the 3 miles without propulsion. After initial success, the truck stopped at the bridge approaching Easton-wood and he could not get it moving again on his own. After assistance from the gatekeeper he managed to reach Stamford. The incident reached the directors of the Midland Railway and an officer arrived and took him into custody.[12]
Midland Railway edit
- Mr. North ca. 1846
- Francis Toplis ca. 1848 ca. 1851
- Thomas Liddell until 1853 (dismissed)
- Edward Darke ca. 1854
- Thomas Hirst ca. 1856 - 1860[13] (discharged)
- William Ward 1861[13] - 1882[14] (formerly station master at Manton)
- Thomas Alexander Watford 1882[15] - 1890 (formerly station master at Rugby, afterwards station master at Tamworth)
- Thomas Walker ca. 1892 - 1894[16] (afterwards station master at Tamworth)
- William Grant 1895 - ca. 1901
- John Francis Westcott 1903[17] - 1921 (formerly station master at Elstree)
- Arthur Jackson 1921 - 1930[18] (formerly station master at Elmton and Creswell, afterwards station master at Berkhamstead)
- William Thomas Dickens 1930 - 1940 (from 1936 also station master at Stamford East)[19]
- Joseph Henry Marshall until 1946
- John E. Pridmore 1946 - 1959[20]
- A. Rolling from 1960 (formerly station master at South Lynn)
London and North Western Railway edit
From 1908 it was agreed that the station be run as a joint station with the Midland Railway, with only one stationmaster.[21]
- Jas. McColm 1862 - 1863 (dismissed)
- John Maw 1863 - ca. 1871
- Samuel Willett ca. 1872 - 1877
- George Wallis 1877 - 1897
- John Brassington 1897 - 1908
References edit
- ^ Historic England. "Stamford Station (499042)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 20 August 2009.
- ^ Historic England. "Stamford Town Railway Station Including Waiting Shelter, Footbridge And Two Stone Piers (Grade II*) (1366147)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ Table 47 National Rail timetable, May 2019
- ^ "£500,000 INVESTMENT FOR STAMFORD STATION". Network Rail. 21 September 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Planning Application S08/LB/7000". South Kesteven District Council. Retrieved 1 August 2008. [dead link]
- ^ (PDF). Network Rail. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
- ^ "The contract for the erection of the Stamford, Ketton and Luffenham stations". Lincolnshire Chronicle. England. 23 July 1847. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Bradshaws General Railway and Steam Navigation Guide, February 1863.
- ^ Butler, P., (2007) A History of the Railways of Northamptonshire, Great Addington: Silver Link Publishing
- ^ Bradshaw's General Railway and Steam Navigation Guide, February 1863
- ^ Bradshaw's General Railway and Steam Navigation Guide, July 1922
- ^ "A Station-Master Fined and Dismissed". The Globe. England. 17 October 1853. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "1859-1866". Midland Railway Miscellaneous Depts: 170. 1914. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Deaths". Lincolnshire Chronicle. England. 13 January 1882. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Promotion". Nuneaton Advertiser. England. 4 February 1882. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Mr. T. Walker". Stamford Mercury. England. 21 December 1894. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Mr. J. Westcott". Bedfordshire Mercury. England. 29 May 1903. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rail Appointment". Leicester Evening Mail. England. 2 August 1930. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Northern Items". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. England. 3 July 1936. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Station-master retires - to work at the station!". Stamford Mercury. England. 21 August 1959. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The Midland and North Western Agreement". Derby Daily Telegraph. England. 16 October 1908. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
External links edit
- Train times and station information for Stamford railway station from National Rail
- Brief history of Stamford railways