Workington railway station

Railway station in Cumbria, England

Workington

General information
Location| Workington, Cumberland
England
Coordinates| 54°38′42″N 3°33′32″W﻿ / ﻿54.6449643°N 3.5589030°W﻿ / 54.6449643; -3.5589030
Grid reference| NX995288
Owned by| Network Rail
Managed by| Northern Trains
Platforms| 2
Tracks| 2
Other information
Station code| WKG
Classification| DfT category E
History
Original company| Whitehaven Junction Railway
Pre-grouping| London and North Western Railway
Post-grouping| London, Midland and Scottish Railway
British Rail (London Midland Region)
Key dates
19 January 1846| Opened as Workington
2 June 1924| Renamed Workington Main
6 May 1968| Renamed Workington
Passengers
2018/19|  0.195 million
2019/20|  0.237 million
2020/21|  62,910
2021/22|  0.184 million
2022/23|  0.191 million

Location

Workington

Location in Allerdale, Cumbria

Show map of the former Allerdale Borough

Workington

Location in Cumbria, England

Show map of Cumbria

Notes

Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Workington railway station is a railway station serving the coastal town of Workington in Cumbria, England. It is on the Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.

## History

[edit]

Workington station, August 1983

The first Workington station on the Cumbrian Coast Line was built in the area known as Priestgate Marsh for the Whitehaven Junction Railway. Although the WJR was opened from Maryport to Workington in 1845[1] the WJR was advertising for tenders for building the station at Workington in October 1846.[2] The WJR station had a single arrival and departure platform (the line was single until 1860) and no platform canopy "the platform is open to the prevailing winds, and " (we) " believe Workington is the only first-class station in Great Britain so unprovided with shelter" complained the Workington town trustees in 1858.[3] In 1854 mis-set points led to a Maryport-Whitehaven goods train being routed into the end bay used by the Workington - Cockermouth trains: the goods train demolished the buffers and "dashed through" the booking office, the porter's office, and the gentleman's waiting room, carrying away the street wall of the station building, and finally coming to rest at the far wall of the ladies' waiting room. The booking office clerk having seen the train approaching, ensured there were no deaths but "the station" reported the Cumberland Pacquet "is of course a perfect wreck" [4] and had to be re-built. (Immediately after the accident, the gas supply to the station was turned off at the meter, but it was noted that three gas lights continued to burn - the town trustees (who owned the town gasworks) declined to restore the supply until the WJR gave a satisfactory explanation or adequate compensation).[5]

The London & North Western Railway took over the Whitehaven Junction and Workington & Cockermouth lines in 1866, and replaced the WJR station. The LNWR station was extended further north than the WJR one, with its principal entrance now facing Station Road; a footpath through the goods yard was suppressed, and South Quay (linking the harbour with the town) was carried over the railway on a bridge, replacing a dangerous level crossing.

At the height of railway development, two other stations served Workington: Workington Bridge on the Cockermouth and Workington Railway, and Workington Central on the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway. - both are now closed. The station on the coast line retained first claim on Workington, but after the opening of Workington Central could be distinguished from it by local papers as 'the Workington low railway station':[6] it could be formally known as Workington LNWR (to distinguish it from Workington Central, Workington Bridge was also an LNWR station) or (post-grouping, when all three stations were LMS) as Workington Main; with the closure of the other stations it has reverted (both formally and informally) to being simply 'Workington' railway station. Trains from the Cockermouth and Keswick direction ended with the closure of that branch to all traffic in April 1966, the line having fallen victim to the Beeching Axe.

A 1914 Railway Clearing House Junction Diagram showing the complex network which existed in the Workington area

## Layout

[edit]

The station was built with yellow Crewe bricks and had four tracks running through the station. Two of the tracks which are not served by platforms were once used to stable Travelling Post Office carriages. There was also a twelve road engine shed, wagon repair shops, a coaling stage, a goods shed and a stable block, all built with local sandstone. In LMS days, a new turntable was installed behind the engine shed. In British Railways days the engine shed was rebuilt with a new roof and ferro-concrete coaling stage and an ash disposal plant was built near to the new turntable. The road approach to the station entrance was remodelled in BR days when the highways near to the station were upgraded. Immediately adjacent to the southbound platform are two carriage sidings, used for stabling & servicing empty DMU sets overnight and at weekends. There is also a train crew depot here.

## Facilities

[edit]

The station is staffed throughout the week (closed in the evenings). There are waiting rooms and covered waiting areas on each platform, which are linked via footbridge. Step-free access is available to both platforms via ramps and a foot level crossing, though this is only open when station staff are present.[7] Outside these times, the only available access routes have steps. A P.A system and digital information screens provide train running information.

## Workington North station

[edit]

Main article: Workington North railway station

* v
* t
* e

Railway stations in Workington

Legend

| Cumbrian Coast line

to Carlisle

|  |

| Cleator and Workington Junction Railway

to Linefoot

Siddick Junction

|  |

|  |
Workington North |  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

| Cockermouth and Workington Railway

to Cockermouth

|  |

|  | Workington Bridge

Steel Works

|  |

|  |

Derwent Junction

River Derwent

|  |

|  |

Cloffocks Junction

Workington |  |

|  | Workington Central

| Cumbrian Coast line

to Whitehaven

|  |

| Cleator and Workington Junction Railway

to Distington

|  |  |  |  |  |

As a consequence of the November 2009 Great Britain and Ireland floods, Network Rail built a temporary additional station 1 mile (1.6 km) from the existing station on waste ground off the A596 adjacent to a business park.[8] An additional hourly shuttle train (composed of a locomotive and at least three former inter-city mainline coaches) operated by Cumbrian-based Direct Rail Services on behalf of Northern Rail, running from Workington northbound to Maryport was created in the aftermath of the floods.[9][10][11] This service started on 30 November 2009 and ran until 28 May 2010.[12] It was initially funded by the Department for Transport at a cost of £216,000. All services between Workington and Maryport were free of charge for this period.[13]

## Services

[edit]

There is generally an hourly service northbound to Carlisle and southbound to Whitehaven with most trains going onward to Barrow-in-Furness (no late evening service operates south of Whitehaven).[14] A few through trains operate to/from Lancaster via the Furness Line.

Train operator Northern introduced a regular through Sunday service to Barrow via the coast at the May 2018 timetable change - the first such service south of Whitehaven for more than 40 years. Services run approximately hourly from mid-morning until early evening, with later trains terminating at Whitehaven. This represents a major upgrade on the former infrequent service of four per day each way to/from Whitehaven only that previously operated.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Railway Intelligence - Local - Partial Opening of the Whitehaven Junction Railway". Carlisle Patriot. 14 November 1845. p. 3.
2. ^ (advertisement): "Whitehaven Junction Railway - Tenders for Building the Station at Workington". Cumberland Pacquet, and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser. 20 October 1846. p. 1.
3. ^ "Workington Town Trustees". Whitehaven News. 25 March 1858. p. 2.
4. ^ "Serious Accident on the Whitehaven Junction Railway". Cumberland Pacquet, and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser. 13 December 1853. p. 3.
5. ^ "A Railway Station in Darkness". Carlisle Patriot. 21 January 1854. p. 5.
6. ^ e.g. "Assaulting a Railway Official". Cumberland Pacquet, and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser. 14 November 1889. p. 5.
7. ^ Workington station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 2 December 2016
8. ^ "Station hope for town cut in two". BBC News. 24 November 2009.
9. ^ Hume, Colette (30 November 2009). "Workington gets new rail station after Cumbria flood". BBC News Online. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
10. ^ "Free shuttle train between Workington and Maryport". Times & Star. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
11. ^ "New shuttle service on Cumbrian coast from Monday 30 November". Northern Rail. Archived from the original on 3 December 2009.
12. ^ "FREE CUMBRIA FLOODS TRAIN SERVICE TO FINISH NEXT WEEK". Carlisle Times and Star. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
13. ^ "New hourly train to help reunite Cumbrian community". Department for Transport. 30 November 2009. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012.
14. ^ GB eNRT December 2019 Edition, Table 100

## External links

[edit]

* Cumbria portal

* Media related to Workington railway station at Wikimedia Commons
*   * Train times and station information for Workington railway station from National Rail

Preceding station  |  National Rail | Following station

|
|

Flimby |  | Northern Trains
Cumbrian Coast Line |  | Harrington
| Disused railways  |
Workington Bridge |  | London and North Western Railway
Cockermouth and Workington Railway |  | Terminus
| Historical railways |
Workington North |  | Northern Rail
Cumbrian Coast Line |  | Harrington
Siddick Junction |  | London and North Western Railway
Whitehaven Junction Railway |  | Harrington

* v
* t
* e

Railway stations in Cumbria

| Cumbrian Coast Line|

* Carlisle
* Dalston (Cumbria)
* Wigton
* Aspatria
* Maryport
* Flimby
* Workington
* Harrington
* Parton
* Whitehaven
* Corkickle
* St. Bees
* Nethertown
* Braystones
* Sellafield
* Seascale
* Drigg
* Ravenglass
* Bootle
* Silecroft
* Millom
* Green Road
* Foxfield
* Kirkby-in-Furness
* Askam-in-Furness
* Barrow-in-Furness

|

Furness Line|

* Barrow-in-Furness
* Roose
* Dalton
* Ulverston
* Cark and Cartmel
* Kents Bank
* Grange-over-Sands
* Arnside → Lancaster

Glasgow South Western Line|

* Carlisle → Glasgow Central

Settle to Carlisle Line|

* Carlisle
* Armathwaite
* Lazonby and Kirkoswald
* Langwathby
* Appleby
* Kirkby Stephen
* Garsdale
* Dent → Settle

Tyne Valley Line|

* Carlisle
* Wetheral
* Brampton (Cumbria) → Newcastle

West Coast Main Line|

* London Euston → Oxenholme Lake District
* Penrith North Lakes
* Carlisle → Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central

Windermere Branch (Lakes Line)|

* Oxenholme Lake District
* Kendal
* Burneside
* Staveley
* Windermere

Heritage railways

Eden Valley Railway|

* Warcop

Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway|

* Haverthwaite
* Newby Bridge Halt
* Lakeside

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway|

* Ravenglass
* Muncaster Mill
* Miteside Halt
* Murthwaite Halt
* Irton Road
* Eskdale Green
* Fisherground
* Beckfoot
* Dalegarth

South Tynedale Railway|

* Alston → Slaggyford

Stainmore Railway|

* Kirkby Stephen East

* v
* t
* e

Railway stations served by Northern Trains

Stations listed in italics are request stops.

North East England|

| County Durham|

* Allens West
* Billingham
* Bishop Auckland
* Chester-le-Street
* Darlington
* Dinsdale
* Durham
* Eaglescliffe
* Hartlepool
* Heighington
* Horden
* Newton Aycliffe
* North Road
* Seaham
* Seaton Carew
* Shildon
* Stockton

|

Northumberland|

* Acklington
* Alnmouth
* Bardon Mill
* Chathill
* Corbridge
* Cramlington
* Haltwhistle
* Haydon Bridge
* Hexham
* Morpeth
* Pegswood
* Prudhoe
* Riding Mill
* Stocksfield
* Widdrington
* Wylam

Tyne and Wear|

* Blaydon
* Dunston
* Heworth
* Manors
* MetroCentre
* Newcastle
* Sunderland

North Yorkshire[a]|

* Gypsy Lane
* James Cook
* Longbeck
* Marske
* Marton
* Middlesbrough
* Nunthorpe
* Redcar Central
* Redcar East
* Saltburn
* South Bank
* Thornaby

North West England
(and West Midlands)|

| Cumbria|

* Appleby
* Armathwaite
* Arnside
* Askam
* Aspatria
* Barrow-in-Furness
* Bootle
* Brampton
* Braystones
* Burneside
* Cark & Cartmel
* Carlisle
* Corkickle
* Dalston
* Dalton
* Dent
* Drigg
* Flimby
* Foxfield
* Garsdale
* Grange-over-Sands
* Green Road
* Harrington
* Kendal
* Kents Bank
* Kirkby-in-Furness
* Kirkby Stephen
* Langwathby
* Lazonby & Kirkoswald
* Maryport
* Millom
* Nethertown
* Oxenholme Lake District
* Parton
* Ravenglass
* Roose
* St Bees
* Seascale
* Sellafield
* Silecroft
* Staveley
* Ulverston
* Wetheral
* Whitehaven
* Wigton
* Windermere
* Workington

|

Lancashire|

* Accrington
* Adlington (Lancashire)
* Ansdell and Fairhaven
* Bamber Bridge
* Bare Lane
* Bescar Lane
* Blackburn
* Blackpool North
* Blackpool Pleasure Beach
* Blackpool South
* Brierfield
* Buckshaw Parkway
* Burnley Barracks
* Burnley Central
* Burnley Manchester Road
* Burscough Bridge
* Burscough Junction
* Carnforth
* Cherry Tree
* Chorley
* Church & Oswaldtwistle
* Clitheroe
* Colne
* Croston
* Darwen
* Entwistle
* Euxton Balshaw Lane
* Hapton
* Heysham Port
* Hoscar
* Huncoat
* Kirkham and Wesham
* Lancaster
* Langho
* Layton
* Leyland
* Lostock Hall
* Lytham
* Mill Hill
* Morecambe
* Moss Side
* Nelson
* New Lane
* Ormskirk
* Parbold
* Pleasington
* Poulton-le-Fylde
* Preston
* Ramsgreave and Wilpshire
* Rishton
* Rose Grove
* Rufford
* St Annes-on-the-Sea
* Salwick
* Silverdale
* Squires Gate
* Upholland
* Wennington
* Whalley

Cheshire|

* Adlington (Cheshire)
* Alderley Edge
* Ashley
* Birchwood
* Chelford
* Chester
* Congleton
* Crewe
* Cuddington
* Delamere
* Disley
* Ellesmere Port
* Frodsham
* Glazebrook
* Goostrey
* Greenbank
* Handforth
* Helsby
* Holmes Chapel
* Hough Green
* Ince & Elton
* Knutsford
* Lostock Gralam
* Macclesfield
* Mobberley
* Mouldsworth
* Northwich
* Padgate
* Plumley
* Poynton
* Prestbury
* Runcorn East
* Sandbach
* Sankey for Penketh
* Styal
* Warrington Bank Quay
* Warrington Central
* Warrington West
* Widnes
* Wilmslow

Greater Manchester|

* Altrincham
* Appley Bridge
* Ardwick
* Ashburys
* Ashton-under-Lyne
* Atherton
* Belle Vue
* Blackrod
* Bolton
* Bramhall
* Bredbury
* Brinnington
* Broadbottom
* Bromley Cross
* Bryn
* Burnage
* Castleton
* Chassen Road
* Cheadle Hulme
* Clifton
* Daisy Hill
* Davenport
* Deansgate
* Denton
* East Didsbury
* Eccles
* Fairfield
* Farnworth
* Flixton
* Flowery Field
* Gathurst
* Gatley
* Godley
* Gorton
* Guide Bridge
* Hag Fold
* Hale
* Hall i' th' Wood
* Hattersley
* Hazel Grove
* Heald Green
* Heaton Chapel
* Hindley
* Horwich Parkway
* Humphrey Park
* Hyde Central
* Hyde North
* Ince
* Irlam
* Kearsley
* Levenshulme
* Littleborough
* Lostock
* Manchester Airport
* Manchester Oxford Road
* Manchester Piccadilly
* Manchester Victoria
* Marple
* Mauldeth Road
* Middlewood
* Mills Hill
* Moorside
* Moses Gate
* Mossley
* Moston
* Navigation Road
* Newton for Hyde
* Orrell
* Patricroft
* Pemberton
* Reddish North
* Reddish South
* Rochdale
* Romiley
* Rose Hill Marple
* Ryder Brow
* Salford Central
* Salford Crescent
* Smithy Bridge
* Stalybridge
* Stockport
* Strines
* Swinton (Greater Manchester)
* Trafford Park
* Urmston
* Walkden
* Westhoughton
* Wigan North Western
* Wigan Wallgate
* Woodley
* Woodsmoor

Merseyside|

* Broad Green
* Earlestown
* Eccleston Park
* Edge Hill
* Garswood
* Halewood
* Headbolt Lane
* Hunts Cross
* Huyton
* Lea Green
* Liverpool Lime Street
* Liverpool South Parkway
* Meols Cop
* Mossley Hill
* Newton-le-Willows
* Prescot
* Rainford
* Rainhill
* Roby
* St Helens Central
* St Helens Junction
* Southport
* Thatto Heath
* Wavertree Technology Park
* West Allerton
* Whiston

Staffordshire|

* Kidsgrove
* Longport
* Stoke-on-Trent

Yorkshire and the Humber
(and East Midlands)|

| North Yorkshire[a]|

* Battersby
* Bentham
* Castleton Moor
* Cattal
* Church Fenton
* Clapham
* Commondale
* Cononley
* Danby
* Egton
* Filey
* Gargrave
* Giggleswick
* Glaisdale
* Great Ayton
* Grosmont
* Hammerton
* Harrogate
* Hellifield
* Hensall
* Hornbeam Park
* Horton-in-Ribblesdale
* Hunmanby
* Kildale
* Knaresborough
* Lealholm
* Long Preston
* Pannal
* Poppleton
* Ribblehead
* Ruswarp
* Scarborough
* Seamer
* Selby
* Settle
* Sherburn-in-Elmet
* Skipton
* Sleights
* South Milford
* Starbeck
* Ulleskelf
* Weeton
* Whitby
* Whitley Bridge
* York

|

East Riding
of Yorkshire|

* Arram
* Bempton
* Beverley
* Bridlington
* Broomfleet
* Brough
* Cottingham
* Driffield
* Eastrington
* Ferriby
* Gilberdyke
* Goole
* Hessle
* Howden
* Hull Paragon
* Hutton Cranswick
* Nafferton
* Rawcliffe
* Saltmarshe
* Snaith
* Wressle

West Yorkshire|

* Apperley Bridge
* Baildon
* Batley
* Ben Rhydding
* Berry Brow
* Bingley
* Bradford Forster Square
* Bradford Interchange
* Bramley
* Brighouse
* Brockholes
* Burley-in-Wharfedale
* Burley Park
* Castleford
* Cottingley
* Crossflatts
* Cross Gates
* Deighton
* Denby Dale
* Dewsbury
* East Garforth
* Featherstone
* Fitzwilliam
* Frizinghall
* Garforth
* Glasshoughton
* Guiseley
* Halifax
* Headingley
* Hebden Bridge
* Honley
* Horsforth
* Huddersfield
* Ilkley
* Keighley
* Kirkstall Forge
* Knottingley
* Leeds
* Lockwood
* Low Moor
* Menston
* Micklefield
* Mirfield
* Moorthorpe
* Morley
* Mytholmroyd
* New Pudsey
* Normanton
* Outwood
* Pontefract Baghill
* Pontefract Monkhill
* Pontefract Tanshelf
* Ravensthorpe
* Saltaire
* Sandal and Agbrigg
* Shepley
* Shipley
* South Elmsall
* Sowerby Bridge
* Steeton and Silsden
* Stocksmoor
* Streethouse
* Todmorden
* Wakefield Kirkgate
* Wakefield Westgate
* Walsden
* Woodlesford

South Yorkshire|

* Adwick
* Barnsley
* Bentley
* Bolton-upon-Dearne
* Chapeltown
* Conisbrough
* Darnall
* Darton
* Dodworth
* Doncaster
* Dore & Totley
* Elsecar
* Goldthorpe
* Hatfield & Stainforth
* Kirk Sandall
* Kiveton Bridge
* Kiveton Park
* Meadowhall
* Mexborough
* Penistone
* Rotherham Central
* Sheffield
* Silkstone Common
* Swinton (South Yorkshire)
* Thorne North
* Thorne South
* Thurnscoe
* Wombwell
* Woodhouse

Lincolnshire[b]|

* Althorpe
* Barnetby
* Brigg
* Cleethorpes
* Crowle
* Gainsborough Central
* Gainsborough Lea Road
* Grimsby Town
* Kirton Lindsey
* Lincoln
* Saxilby
* Scunthorpe

Nottinghamshire|

* Nottingham
* Retford
* Shireoaks
* Worksop

Derbyshire|

* Alfreton
* Bamford
* Buxton
* Chapel-en-le-Frith
* Chesterfield
* Chinley
* Dinting
* Dove Holes
* Dronfield
* Edale
* Furness Vale
* Glossop
* Grindleford
* Hadfield
* Hathersage
* Hope
* Ilkeston
* Langley Mill
* New Mills Central
* New Mills Newtown
* Whaley Bridge

Rail transport in the United Kingdom

1. ^ a b Stations in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees are considered part of North East England, while stations in the unitary areas of York and North Yorkshire are considered part of Yorkshire and the Humber.
2. ^ Stations in North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire are considered part of Yorkshire and the Humber, while all other stations are considered part of the East Midlands.

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