Hallam Line
Encyclopedia
The Hallam Line is the name given to rail services operated by Northern Rail
, in the West Yorkshire Metro
/ Travel South Yorkshire
area of northern England
which connect Leeds and Sheffield
via Barnsley
. It is the slower of the two routes between Leeds and Sheffield, with faster services provided on the Wakefield Line
, although it does have a quicker limited-stop service. Services from Leeds to Nottingham also use the line.
West Yorkshire MetroCards are available on trains between Leeds and Darton
, north of Barnsley
and South Yorkshire Travelmaster tickets are available in the South Yorkshire area.
(1086). At this time the local area was known as Hallamshire
—the names Hallam and Hallamshire are still used today by many local companies and organisations.
the route followed by the line was owned as follows:
After 1921 the entire route, except Methley to Normanton via Castleford, and the short stretch from Barnsley (Jumble Lane) to Quarry Junction, became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
until 1948 when the network was nationalised. Midland Railway trains made use of Barnsley Court House station and so avoided any contact with Great Central / L.N.E.R. metals.
(Note: The route that exists today was not possible until 1960 when B.R. added a connection at Barnsley (Quarry Junction) to allow trains to use Exchange station and reach the Midland line to Sheffield).
Trains on the line serve the following places; some stations may no longer be open:
Stations from here to Sheffield are also on the Penistone Line:
From here the two railways - MidR and GCR had parallel lines to Sheffield. The latter line is closed and lifted.
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
, in the West Yorkshire Metro
West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive is the Passenger Transport Executive for the county of West Yorkshire, England. It is the executive arm of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority and was originally formed on 1 April 1974 as the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport...
/ Travel South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive is the Passenger Transport Executive for South Yorkshire in England. It is supervised by the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, which consists of representatives from the metropolitan boroughs of Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and...
area of northern 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...
which connect Leeds and Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
via Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
. It is the slower of the two routes between Leeds and Sheffield, with faster services provided on the Wakefield Line
Wakefield Line
The Wakefield line is the name given to one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro/South Yorkshire P.T.E. area of northern England. The service connects Leeds and Wakefield with Sheffield and Doncaster. The section of the line between Leeds and Doncaster forms part of the East Coast Main...
, although it does have a quicker limited-stop service. Services from Leeds to Nottingham also use the line.
West Yorkshire MetroCards are available on trains between Leeds and Darton
Darton
Darton is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley , on the border with West Yorkshire. According to the 2001 UK census, it has a population of approximately 14,927...
, north of Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
and South Yorkshire Travelmaster tickets are available in the South Yorkshire area.
Origin of name
The line is named after the manor of Hallam which included Sheffield at the time of the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
(1086). At this time the local area was known as Hallamshire
Hallamshire
Hallamshire is the historical name for an area of South Yorkshire, England, in the current city of Sheffield.The origin of the name is uncertain. The English Place-Name Society describe "Hallam" originating from a formation meaning "on the rocks"...
—the names Hallam and Hallamshire are still used today by many local companies and organisations.
History
Before the 1923 GroupingRailways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
the route followed by the line was owned as follows:
- Leeds - Methley: Midland RailwayMidland RailwayThe Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
- Methley - Normanton: Midland RailwayMidland RailwayThe Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
- Methley - Castleford - Normanton: North Eastern RailwayNorth Eastern Railway (UK)The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
- Normanton - Barnsley: Lancashire and Yorkshire RailwayLancashire and Yorkshire RailwayThe Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
- Barnsley, Jumble Lane to Quarry Junction:Great Central RailwayGreat Central RailwayThe Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
- Barnsley, Quarry Junction to Sheffield: Midland RailwayMidland RailwayThe Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
After 1921 the entire route, except Methley to Normanton via Castleford, and the short stretch from Barnsley (Jumble Lane) to Quarry Junction, became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
until 1948 when the network was nationalised. Midland Railway trains made use of Barnsley Court House station and so avoided any contact with Great Central / L.N.E.R. metals.
(Note: The route that exists today was not possible until 1960 when B.R. added a connection at Barnsley (Quarry Junction) to allow trains to use Exchange station and reach the Midland line to Sheffield).
Route details
- Leeds railway station: in MR days trains would have operated from Wellington station. Here there is a triangular junction with the line to BradfordBradfordBradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. The line from here to Castleford is also served by Pontefract LinePontefract LineThe Pontefract Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service is operated by Northern Rail, and links Wakefield and Leeds with Goole via Pontefract...
services. - HunsletHunsletHunslet is an inner-city area in south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is south east of the city centre and has an industrial past.Hunslet had many engineering companies based in the district, such as John Fowler & Co...
(Closed) - here was the junction with the East & West Yorkshire Union Railway (MidR/Great Northern RailwayGreat Northern Railway (Great Britain)The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
(GNR) joint: it was a direct connection to WakefieldWakefieldWakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
via RothwellRothwell, West YorkshireRothwell is a market town on the River Dolphin in the south east of the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, situated between Oulton to the east, Belle Isle to the west, Woodlesford to the north east and Robin Hood to the south west. Swillington, Methley and Kippax are located... - WoodlesfordWoodlesford railway stationWoodlesford railway station serves Woodlesford in West Yorkshire, England. It lies on the Hallam Line and the Pontefract Line.-Service:Monday to Saturdays there is a half-hourly service to Leeds and an hourly service to Sheffield on the Hallam Line and hourly towards Knottingley on the Pontefract...
- MethleyMethleyMethley is a dispersed village in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, south east of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is located near Rothwell, Oulton, Woodlesford, Mickletown and Allerton Bywater. It nestles in the triangle formed by Leeds, Castleford and Wakefield, and is between the...
: station closed - between here and Castleford there were several junctions: with the Methley Joint Railway (GNR/L&YR/North Eastern Railway (NER); with the NER line Leeds to YorkYorkYork is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
; and with the Swinton & Knottingley Railway to PontefractPontefractPontefract is an historic market town in West Yorkshire, England. Traditionally in the West Riding, near the A1 , the M62 motorway and Castleford. It is one of the five towns in the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield and has a population of 28,250... - Either goes to a branch towards CastlefordCastleford railway stationCastleford railway station is an unstaffed railway station serving the town of Castleford in West Yorkshire. It lies on the Hallam and the Pontefract Lines south east of Leeds....
where it then reverses towards Normanton which stopping trains use or alternatively goes a more direct route bypassing Castleford and past the former Altofts railway stationAltofts railway stationAltofts railway station served the village of Altofts near Normanton in the English county of West Yorkshire. It was opened in 1870 as Altofts and Whitwood by the Midland Railway on its line from Derby to Leeds Wellington Station. Much of the village of Altofts is in fact closer to Normanton...
which closed in the 1980s towards Normanton station that Leeds - Sheffield fast trains use. - NormantonNormanton railway stationNormanton railway station serves the town of Normanton in West Yorkshire, England. It lies south-east of Leeds railway station on the Hallam Line, which is operated by Northern Rail.-History:...
- here the MidR main line to Sheffield branched off: our route now uses the L&YR metals
- Wakefield KirkgateWakefield Kirkgate railway stationWakefield Kirkgate railway station is a railway station in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. Unlike the nearby Wakefield Westgate railway station, Kirkgate is unstaffed and served mostly by local trains...
(Also served by the PontefractPontefract LineThe Pontefract Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service is operated by Northern Rail, and links Wakefield and Leeds with Goole via Pontefract...
and Huddersfield LineHuddersfield LineThe Huddersfield Line is the name given to one of the busiest rail services on the West Yorkshire MetroTrain network in northern England. Local services are operated by Northern Rail with longer distance services operated by TransPennine Express...
s) - SandalSandal, Wakefield-Governance:Sandal was anciently a parish town in the Agbrigg Division of the wapentake of Agbrigg and Morley in the liberty of Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire. Following the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, Sandal Magna became one of the 17 constituent parishes of the Wakefield Poor Law Union...
, closed. Not to be confused with Sandal and Agbrigg on the Doncaster to Leeds via Wakefield Westgate line. - Horbury Junction (closed) for the L&YR main line to Manchester
- CrigglestoneCrigglestoneCrigglestone is a village and civil parish in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. It is recorded as "Crigeston" in the Domesday Book. In 1941, there was a disaster at Crigglestone Colliery; 22 men died underground. The site of the colliery is now an industrial estate.- External...
(Closed) - here is Woolley Tunnel 1745 yd (1570 m)
- Haigh (Closed)
- DartonDarton railway stationDarton railway station is a railway station in Darton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. Train services are provided by Northern Rail....
- here was Silkstone Junction for the freight line to SilkstoneSilkstoneSilkstone is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, between the towns of Barnsley and Penistone, and includes the village of Silkstone Common...
. - BarnsleyBarnsley InterchangeBarnsley Interchange lies in the centre of the town of Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, England. The station was opened in 1850 and is north of Sheffield...
: formerly Barnsley Exchange, traffic arrived not only from Leeds but via the Great Central RailwayGreat Central RailwayThe Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
line from Penistone. This is nowadays known as the Penistone LinePenistone LineThe Penistone Line is operated by Northern Rail in the West Yorkshire Metro/ Travel South Yorkshire area of northern England. It connects Huddersfield and Sheffield via Penistone and Barnsley, serving many rural communities...
.
Stations from here to Sheffield are also on the Penistone Line:
- Swaithe Viaduct - carries the line over the Worsborough Branch of the Great Central.
- WombwellWombwell railway stationWombwell railway station lies in Wombwell, a town south of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. The station is north of Sheffield on the Hallam and Penistone Lines...
- ElsecarElsecar railway stationElsecar railway station is a railway station in Elsecar, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It is based on the Penistone Line and Hallam Line served by Northern Rail.CCTV was recently installed for the purposes of crime prevention...
was Elsecar & Hoyland - WentworthWentworth railway stationWentworth railway station was a railway station on the Sheffield to Barnsley route of the Midland Railway. The station has been known as Wentworth and Tankersley and Wentworth and Hoyland Common during its life.-History:...
- also known as Wentworth & Hoyland Common and Wentworth & Tankersley. (Closed) - ChapeltownChapeltown railway stationChapeltown railway station, originally known as Chapeltown South, is a railway station in Chapeltown, a district of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England...
: formerly Chapeltown South to distinguish from Chapeltown Central on the former South Yorkshire Railway, later G.C.R. line. Chapeltown station was rebuilt nearer to the town centre roundabout in the 1970s as the first railway project of the, then, new South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority. Much of the original remains.
From here the two railways - MidR and GCR had parallel lines to Sheffield. The latter line is closed and lifted.
- Ecclesfield - known as Ecclesfield West to distinguish from Ecclesfield East on the former South Yorkshire Railway, later G.C.R. line. (Closed)
- MeadowhallMeadowhall InterchangeMeadowhall Interchange to the north of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England is a railway station on the Midland Main Line, a Sheffield Supertram stop, and bus station. It is close to junction 34 on the M1, and serves Meadowhall Shopping Centre...
:, partly built on the site of Wincobank and Meadow Hall - Brightside (Closed)
- Attercliffe Road (Closed)
- Sheffield Midland stationSheffield Midland stationSheffield station, formerly Pond Street and later Sheffield Midland, is a railway station in Sheffield, England and is the busiest station in South Yorkshire...
(Also served by the WakefieldWakefield LineThe Wakefield line is the name given to one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro/South Yorkshire P.T.E. area of northern England. The service connects Leeds and Wakefield with Sheffield and Doncaster. The section of the line between Leeds and Doncaster forms part of the East Coast Main...
and Dearne ValleyDearne Valley LineThe Dearne Valley Line is the name given to a railway line in the north of England running from York to Sheffield via Pontefract Baghill and Moorthorpe.-History:...
Lines)