Farnborough railway station
Encyclopedia
Farnborough railway station serves the town of Farnborough
in Hampshire
, England
. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by South West Trains
. It is one of two stations serving Farnborough: the other, Farnborough North
, is situated on the North Downs Line
. The station is mostly known as Farnborough (Main) in order to distinguish it from Farnborough North, including by National Rail
and South West Trains
, although often signposted as simply Farnborough.
The station is situated on the South Western Main Line
, which has four tracks running through the station. There are two platforms on the outer pair of tracks, while the centre pair of tracks are used by fast trains.
(then the London and Southampton Railway), on the line from London to Winchfield (then Shapley Heath). The next year, the line was extended to Basingstoke
, then the next year it was connected to Southampton
. Throughout its life, Farnborough was a through station.
In 1849, South Eastern Railway
built the North Downs Line
, and opened a station also known as Farnborough, but it was not renamed as its existing name Farnborough North until 1923. The main line railway station was often known as Farnborough (Main) and this has become its official name. It is referred to as simply 'Farnborough' on platform and road signs, but National Rail and South West Trains officially use the suffix (though not on timetables). It was sometimes advertised as 'Farnborough for Aldershot' at an early stage.
As with Hook
and Winchfield
, there is a wide gap between the tracks. Originally, an island platform stood between them. When the railway was quadrupled, the new tracks were built to the south of the original station effectively leaving the old building on an island platform, so a new building was built to the south. The island platform was removed in the 1960s and the old buildings were demolished.
One source suggests that it may have been used by Queen Victoria to get to Windsor Castle, though the main station she used for Windsor was Slough
until Windsor got its own station.
In 2010, the forecourt was undergoing refurbishment to add two lifts to the platforms. Earlier in the year, there had been built a brand new transport interchange complete with taxi rank, three new bus stops and a large bicycle shelter.
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
. It is one of two stations serving Farnborough: the other, Farnborough North
Farnborough North railway station
Farnborough North railway station is a railway station in the town of Farnborough in Hampshire, England. The station is managed by First Great Western, who operate services on the North Downs Line from Reading to Guildford, Redhill and Gatwick Airport....
, is situated on the North Downs Line
North Downs Line
The North Downs Line is the name of the passenger train service connecting Reading, on the Great Western Main Line, to Gatwick Airport, on the Brighton Main Line...
. The station is mostly known as Farnborough (Main) in order to distinguish it from Farnborough North, including by National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
and South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
, although often signposted as simply Farnborough.
The station is situated on the South Western Main Line
South Western Main Line
The South Western Main Line is a railway line between London Waterloo and Weymouth on the Dorset coast, in the south of England. It is a major railway which serves many important commuter areas, as well as the major settlements of Southampton and Bournemouth...
, which has four tracks running through the station. There are two platforms on the outer pair of tracks, while the centre pair of tracks are used by fast trains.
History
Farnborough railway station was opened in 1838 by the London and South Western RailwayLondon and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
(then the London and Southampton Railway), on the line from London to Winchfield (then Shapley Heath). The next year, the line was extended to Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
, then the next year it was connected to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. Throughout its life, Farnborough was a through station.
In 1849, South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
built the North Downs Line
North Downs Line
The North Downs Line is the name of the passenger train service connecting Reading, on the Great Western Main Line, to Gatwick Airport, on the Brighton Main Line...
, and opened a station also known as Farnborough, but it was not renamed as its existing name Farnborough North until 1923. The main line railway station was often known as Farnborough (Main) and this has become its official name. It is referred to as simply 'Farnborough' on platform and road signs, but National Rail and South West Trains officially use the suffix (though not on timetables). It was sometimes advertised as 'Farnborough for Aldershot' at an early stage.
As with Hook
Hook railway station
Hook station serves the town of Hook and surrounding villages in Hampshire, southern England. There are two platforms serving the outer pair of tracks while the centre pair of tracks have no platforms and are used by fast services between the South Coast and the West Country...
and Winchfield
Winchfield railway station
Winchfield railway station is located in the small village of Winchfield and serves Hartley Wintney and other surrounding villages in Hampshire, England...
, there is a wide gap between the tracks. Originally, an island platform stood between them. When the railway was quadrupled, the new tracks were built to the south of the original station effectively leaving the old building on an island platform, so a new building was built to the south. The island platform was removed in the 1960s and the old buildings were demolished.
One source suggests that it may have been used by Queen Victoria to get to Windsor Castle, though the main station she used for Windsor was Slough
Slough railway station
Slough railway station, in Slough, Berkshire, England, is served by local services operated by First Great Western from to and intercity services on the Great Western Main Line, the original line of the Great Western Railway...
until Windsor got its own station.
In 2010, the forecourt was undergoing refurbishment to add two lifts to the platforms. Earlier in the year, there had been built a brand new transport interchange complete with taxi rank, three new bus stops and a large bicycle shelter.
Services
- 4tph to London Waterloo, of which:
- 1tph calls at Clapham JunctionClapham Junction railway stationClapham Junction railway station is near St John's Hill in the south-west of Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Although it is in Battersea, the area around the station is commonly identified as Clapham Junction....
Only - 1tph calls at WokingWoking railway stationWoking railway station is a railway station in England, serving the town of Woking, Surrey. It is a major stop on the South Western Main Line and is used by many commuters...
Only - 2tph call at BrookwoodBrookwood railway stationBrookwood is a National Rail railway station in Brookwood in the English county of Surrey. It was constructed to serve the adjacent Brookwood Cemetery and was at one stage served by its own station in London for the funeral trains...
and WokingWoking railway stationWoking railway station is a railway station in England, serving the town of Woking, Surrey. It is a major stop on the South Western Main Line and is used by many commuters...
and WeybridgeWeybridge railway stationWeybridge railway station serves Weybridge in the Elmbridge district of Surrey, England. It is located on the South Western Main Line operated by South West Trains, 19 miles from London Waterloo....
and Walton on Thames and SurbitonSurbiton railway stationSurbiton railway station is a National Rail station in Surbiton, south west London, in the Kingston upon Thames. The station is managed and served by South West Trains, and is in Travelcard Zone 6...
, of which:- 1tph call at Clapham JunctionClapham Junction railway stationClapham Junction railway station is near St John's Hill in the south-west of Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Although it is in Battersea, the area around the station is commonly identified as Clapham Junction....
, and 1tph does not
- 1tph call at Clapham Junction
- 1tph calls at Clapham Junction
- 2tph stopping to BasingstokeBasingstoke railway stationBasingstoke railway station, in the town of Basingstoke in the county of Hampshire in England, is on the South Western Main Line from London Waterloo, with local and fast services operated by South West Trains. It is also the terminus of First Great Western local services on the Reading to...
- 1tph stopping to PoolePoole railway stationthumb|right|Down stopping train in 1958Poole railway station is a railway station on the South Western Main Line serving the town of Poole in Dorset, England. The station is situated in the town centre next to Holes Bay...
- 1tph to Portsmouth HarbourPortsmouth Harbour railway stationPortsmouth Harbour railway station is a railway station in Portsmouth, England. It is situated beside Gunwharf Quays in the city's harbour, and is an important transport terminal, with a bus interchange and ferry services to Gosport and the Isle of Wight. The station currently has four platforms:...