Railways of Shropshire
Encyclopedia
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...
county of Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
has a fairly large railway network, with 19 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...
stations on various national lines, as well as a small number of heritage and freight lines, including the famous heritage Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
running along its eastern border with Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
.
The majority of the county's public rail services are run by Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
, the remainder are run by London Midland
London Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
.
National Rail services
Shrewsbury railway station
Shrewsbury railway station is the railway station serving Shrewsbury, county town of Shropshire, England. It is the only remaining railway station in the town; Shrewsbury Abbey, as well as other small stations around the town, having long closed. The station was built in 1848 and has been extended...
(all other 'national rail' stations in Shropshire have a direct train service to Shrewsbury, which is the county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
), which is managed by Arriva Trains Wales. The station is at the junction of the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line
Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line
The Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line is the railway line from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury via Wellington; it was originally built by the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway. The line is double track throughout, with rarely used relief sidings at Cosford and 4 tracks through Wellington station...
, Shrewsbury to Chester Line
Shrewsbury to Chester Line
The Shrewsbury to Chester Line, also known as the Severn–Dee Line , was built in 1846 as the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway...
, the Welsh Marches Line
Welsh Marches Line
The Welsh Marches Line , known historically as the North and West Route, is the railway line running from Newport in south-east Wales to Shrewsbury in the West Midlands region of England by way of Abergavenny, Hereford and Craven Arms, and thence to Crewe via Whitchurch...
(between Cardiff
Cardiff Central railway station
Cardiff Central railway station is a major railway station on the South Wales Main Line in Cardiff, Wales.It is the largest and busiest station in Wales and one of the major stations of the British rail network, the tenth busiest station in the United Kingdom outside of London , based on 2007/08...
and Manchester) and the Cambrian Line
Cambrian Line
The Cambrian Line is a railway from Shrewsbury to Welshpool, Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. The railway runs first through the central part of Wales and then along the coast of Cardigan Bay....
(towards Welshpool
Welshpool railway station
Welshpool railway station is a railway station on the Cambrian Line, in Powys, mid-Wales. It serves the town of Welshpool.The modern station is a single island platform between the two railway lines, reached by a large pedestrian bridge over the eastbound railway line and the A483 road. It has no...
). Craven Arms station
Craven Arms railway station
Craven Arms railway station serves the small town of Craven Arms in Shropshire, England. Until 1974 it was known as "Craven Arms and Stokesay", named after the nearby coaching inn and the historic settlement of Stokesay to the south...
is at the junction between the Welsh Marches Line
Welsh Marches Line
The Welsh Marches Line , known historically as the North and West Route, is the railway line running from Newport in south-east Wales to Shrewsbury in the West Midlands region of England by way of Abergavenny, Hereford and Craven Arms, and thence to Crewe via Whitchurch...
and the Heart of Wales Line
Heart of Wales Line
The Heart of Wales Line is a railway line running from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli in South Wales. It runs, as the name suggests, through some of the heartlands of Wales. It serves a number of rural centres en route, including several once fashionable spa towns, including Llandrindod Wells...
, although services on the Heart of Wales Line begin at Shrewsbury, rather than Craven Arms itself. There are direct train services from Shrewsbury (and elsewhere in the county) to the cities of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, as well as the port at Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
where regular ferries to Dublin depart.
There are no electrified railways in the county (unless you count the funicular Bridgnorth Cliff Railway
Bridgnorth Cliff Railway
The Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, also known as the Bridgnorth Funicular Railway or Castle Hill Railway, is a funicular railway in the town of Bridgnorth in the English county of Shropshire...
), despite the surrounding railway nodes of Crewe
Crewe railway station
Crewe railway station was completed in 1837 and is one of the most historic railway stations in the world. Built in fields near to Crewe Hall, it originally served the village of Crewe with a population of just 70 residents...
, Chester
Chester railway station
Chester railway station is a railway station in Newtown in the city of Chester, England. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although Merseyrail, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains also run services from the station. It is situated to the north-east of the city centre...
and Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton railway station
Wolverhampton railway station in Wolverhampton, West Midlands is on the West Coast Main Line. It is served by London Midland, CrossCountry, Virgin Trains and Arriva Trains Wales.-History:...
all being electrified. This has meant that since the mid-1990s rail privatisation
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
there has been a reluctance to establish a direct service to London by the cross-country railway companies (previously British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ran direct trains from Shrewsbury to London), notably Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
, who previously ran services to London from the county in 2000. There was a direct service to London Marylebone, provided by the open-access company Wrexham & Shropshire, which operated from 28 April 2008 to 28 January 2011 and used diesel locomotives.
Freight only lines
There are two freight only lines in operation in the TelfordTelford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
area. One is the line from Madeley Junction
Madeley Junction
Madeley Junction is a railway junction situated between Shifnal and Telford Central on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line in Shropshire, England....
on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line to Ironbridge Power Station
Ironbridge Power Station
The Ironbridge power stations refers to a series of two coal-fired power stations which have occupied a site on the banks of the River Severn at Buildwas in Shropshire, England. The current Ironbridge B power station is operated by E.ON UK...
via the historic industrial area of Coalbrookdale
Coalbrookdale
Coalbrookdale is a village in the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, England, containing a settlement of great significance in the history of iron ore smelting. This is where iron ore was first smelted by Abraham Darby using easily mined "coking coal". The coal was drawn from drift mines in the sides...
. The other is the newly restored line from Wellington
Wellington (Shropshire) railway station
Wellington railway station serves the town of Wellington, Shropshire, England. It is situated on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line. Trains are operated by London Midland and Arriva Trains Wales.-History:...
to the Telford International Railfreight Park
Telford International Railfreight Park
Telford International Railfreight Park is rail freight depot and construction development site located in Donnington to the north of Telford, on the former route of the Stafford to Shrewsbury Line....
in Donnington
Donnington, Telford
Donnington was not part of the new town of Telford but part of the already oudated Wellington Rural District which had built many council houses from the 1920s onwards. It is located in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England...
which links the Terminal at Donnington with the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line.
There is also the short Abbey Loop line in Shrewsbury which is generally only used by freight trains.
The Gobowen
Gobowen railway station
Gobowen railway station is a railway station on the Shrewsbury to Chester Line serving the village of Gobowen in Shropshire, England. It is the nearest station to the town of Oswestry., train services run on two routes;...
to Blodwell line, which runs through Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
, has been a mothballed line since the 1980s. It previously served a small number of stone quarries in the area. In 2008 the line was bought by the County Council and will likely be used in part by the Cambrian Heritage Railways being set up in the area (by the Cambrian Railways Trust and Society, see Heritage section below) and also as a cycle path from Oswestry to Gobowen.
Former railways
There are many closed lines in Shropshire, including- Tenbury and Bewdley Railway which ran from the now-closed WooffertonWooffertonWoofferton is a village to the south of Ludlow, Shropshire, England. It is one of Shropshire's most southerly villages and lies on the border with Herefordshire. The public house there - the "Salwey Arms" - is the most southerly in the county...
station on the Shrewsbury to Hereford lineWelsh Marches LineThe Welsh Marches Line , known historically as the North and West Route, is the railway line running from Newport in south-east Wales to Shrewsbury in the West Midlands region of England by way of Abergavenny, Hereford and Craven Arms, and thence to Crewe via Whitchurch...
and passing briefly through HerefordshireHerefordshireHerefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
through Tenbury WellsTenbury WellsTenbury Wells is a market town and civil parish in the north-western extremity of the Malvern Hills District administrative area of Worcestershire, England. The 2001 census reported a population of 3,316.-Geography:...
, Cleobury MortimerCleobury MortimerCleobury Mortimer is a small rural market town in Shropshire, England. The town's parish has a population of 1,962 according to the 2001 census. Although sometimes regarded as a village, it is in fact the second smallest town in Shropshire , having been granted a town charter in 1253.Several...
, and then into WorcestershireWorcestershireWorcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
to BewdleyBewdleyBewdley is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England, along the Severn Valley a few miles to the west of Kidderminster... - Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light RailwayCleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light RailwayThe Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway was a pre-grouping railway company that served part of south Shropshire.Everard Calthrop was appointed Consulting Engineer in 1900, responsible for surveying the route and preparing the construction plans, and the line opened in 1908...
- Bishop's Castle Railway was a 19 mile line running from just north of Craven Arms stationCraven Arms railway stationCraven Arms railway station serves the small town of Craven Arms in Shropshire, England. Until 1974 it was known as "Craven Arms and Stokesay", named after the nearby coaching inn and the historic settlement of Stokesay to the south...
to Bishop's CastleBishop's CastleBishop's Castle is a small market town in Shropshire, England, and formerly its smallest borough. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,630. Bishop's Castle is east of the Wales-England border, about north-west of Ludlow and about south-west of Shrewsbury. To the south is Clun... - Severn Valley RailwaySevern Valley RailwayThe Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
; although part of the southern section has been restored, the line used to continue north from BridgnorthBridgnorthBridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...
to Sutton Bridge Junction in ShrewsburyShrewsburyShrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council... - Craven Arms stationCraven Arms railway stationCraven Arms railway station serves the small town of Craven Arms in Shropshire, England. Until 1974 it was known as "Craven Arms and Stokesay", named after the nearby coaching inn and the historic settlement of Stokesay to the south...
to WellingtonWellington (Shropshire) railway stationWellington railway station serves the town of Wellington, Shropshire, England. It is situated on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line. Trains are operated by London Midland and Arriva Trains Wales.-History:...
via Much WenlockMuch WenlockMuch Wenlock, earlier known as Wenlock, is a small town in central Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford...
and a junction with the Severn Valley RailwaySevern Valley RailwayThe Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
at BuildwasBuildwasBuildwas is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England, on the north bank of the River Severn at . It lies on the B4380 road to Atcham. The Royal Mail postcodes begin TF6 and TF8Buildwas Primary School is situated on the Buildwas bank road...
. A small section of this line has been reopened as the Telford Steam RailwayTelford Steam RailwayThe Telford Steam Railway is a heritage railway located at Horsehay, Telford in Shropshire, England, formed in 1976.The railway is operated by volunteers on Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter to the end of September, and at Christmas...
. There was also a branch via MadeleyMadeley, ShropshireMadeley is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, now part of the new town of Telford. The parish had a population of 17,935 at the 2001 census.Madeley is recorded in the Domesday Book, having been founded before the 8th century...
to ShifnalShifnalShifnal is a small market town in Shropshire, England. It forms part of The Wrekin constituency, and is about east of Telford. It has a railway station on the Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton Line and is near to the M54 motorway.-Early medieval time:...
. - Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway (the 'Potts Railway'), an 18 mile line from Shrewsbury AbbeyShrewsbury AbbeyThe Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, commonly known as Shrewsbury Abbey, was a Benedictine monastery founded in 1083 by the Norman Earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Montgomery, in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England.-Background:...
to LlanymynechLlanymynechLlanymynech is a village straddling the border between Montgomeryshire/Powys, Wales and Shropshire, England about 9 miles north of the Welsh town of Welshpool. The name is Welsh for "Church of the Monks"....
with a branch to CriggionCriggionCriggion is a village in Powys, Wales. Criggion radio station was located nearby. A branch of the now defunct Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway stopped at Criggion.- External links :**... - Minsterley branch lineMinsterley branch lineThe Minsterley branch line was a standard gauge railway line that ran from Cruckmeole Junction, where the Shrewsbury to Welshpool line runs, near Hanwood, to the villages of Pontesbury and then Minsterley...
was a 9 mile line from Shrewsbury stationShrewsbury railway stationShrewsbury railway station is the railway station serving Shrewsbury, county town of Shropshire, England. It is the only remaining railway station in the town; Shrewsbury Abbey, as well as other small stations around the town, having long closed. The station was built in 1848 and has been extended...
to MinsterleyMinsterleyMinsterley is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It is home to a large dairy operated by Uniq foods.The dairy currently employs nearly 500 people...
, with a further branch to SnailbeachSnailbeachSnailbeach is a village in Shropshire, England, located near Shrewsbury at . The village was formerly home to a large lead mine.-Early history:A village was built for workers at the local lead mine - Snailbeach Mine, which reputedly dates back to Roman times... - Stafford to Wellington line ran from Wellington to Stafford via NewportNewport railway station (Shropshire)Newport station was a railway station serving the Shropshire market town of Newport that was situated on the Stafford to Shrewsbury Line...
and GnosallGnosallGnosall is a large village in the Borough of Stafford, Staffordshire, England, with a population of approximately 5,000. It lies on the A518, approximately half-way between the towns of Newport and the county town of Staffordshire, Stafford...
. Although closed in the 1960s, new track has been restored from east of WellingtonWellington (Shropshire) railway stationWellington railway station serves the town of Wellington, Shropshire, England. It is situated on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line. Trains are operated by London Midland and Arriva Trains Wales.-History:...
to DonningtonDonnington, TelfordDonnington was not part of the new town of Telford but part of the already oudated Wellington Rural District which had built many council houses from the 1920s onwards. It is located in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England...
in 2008. It is hoped the next phase would be to reconnect Newport to the railway network. The line is in the top 36 'Lines that should reopen' listing published by the Campaign for Better Transport. - WellingtonWellington (Shropshire) railway stationWellington railway station serves the town of Wellington, Shropshire, England. It is situated on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line. Trains are operated by London Midland and Arriva Trains Wales.-History:...
to NantwichNantwichNantwich is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich...
in CheshireCheshireCheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, via Market DraytonMarket DraytonMarket Drayton is a small market town in north Shropshire, England. It is on the River Tern, between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent, and was formerly known as "Drayton in Hales" and earlier simply as "Drayton" ....
, with another line running into Stoke-on-TrentStoke-on-Trent railway stationStoke-on-Trent Railway Station is a main-line railway station in central England. It is located on the Stafford to Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line and serves the Staffordshire city of Stoke-on-Trent...
in StaffordshireStaffordshireStaffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
from Market DraytonMarket DraytonMarket Drayton is a small market town in north Shropshire, England. It is on the River Tern, between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent, and was formerly known as "Drayton in Hales" and earlier simply as "Drayton" .... - OswestryOswestryOswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
to Newtown, passing through ShropshireShropshireShropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west... - Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway, a constituent line of the Cambrian RailwaysCambrian RailwaysCambrian Railways owned of track over a large area of mid-Wales. The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904...
system - Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway, a constituent line of the Cambrian RailwaysCambrian RailwaysCambrian Railways owned of track over a large area of mid-Wales. The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904...
system which ran for a short distance within ShropshireShropshireShropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west... - Whitchurch and Tattenhall RailwayWhitchurch and Tattenhall RailwayThe Whitchurch and Tattenhall Railway was a railway line in Cheshire, which ran between Whitchurch and Tattenhall, where it joined the North Wales Coast Line at Tattenhall to terminate in Chester. The line connected the small Cheshire Villages of Malpas, Hampton, Edge, Duckington, Broxton, and...
which ran for a short distance in ShropshireShropshireShropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
before passing into CheshireCheshireCheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
Many were closed in the 1960s, although the county did not fare too badly under Dr Beeching's massive nationwide railway cuts
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
. The Heart of Wales Line
Heart of Wales Line
The Heart of Wales Line is a railway line running from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli in South Wales. It runs, as the name suggests, through some of the heartlands of Wales. It serves a number of rural centres en route, including several once fashionable spa towns, including Llandrindod Wells...
was saved from closure. However, some previously major railway centres in the county, such as Oswestry, Newport and Market Drayton
Market Drayton
Market Drayton is a small market town in north Shropshire, England. It is on the River Tern, between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent, and was formerly known as "Drayton in Hales" and earlier simply as "Drayton" ....
, now have no public railways.
Heritage railways
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
s in Shropshire: the Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
from Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...
to Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
(in Worcestershire), the Telford Steam Railway
Telford Steam Railway
The Telford Steam Railway is a heritage railway located at Horsehay, Telford in Shropshire, England, formed in 1976.The railway is operated by volunteers on Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter to the end of September, and at Christmas...
at Horsehay
Horsehay
Horsehay is a village on the western outskirts of Dawley, which, along with several other towns and villages, now forms part of the new town of Telford in Shropshire, England. Horsehay lies in the Dawley Hamlets parish, and on the northern edge of the Ironbridge Gorge area.Its name is Anglo Saxon...
, and a restored section of the Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways owned of track over a large area of mid-Wales. The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904...
, as being run by the Cambrian Railways Trust
Cambrian Railways Trust
The Cambrian Railways Trust is based in Suite 1 of the Old Station Building in Oswestry, Shropshire, England.Oswestry was the headquarters of the former Cambrian Railways, previous to the 1922 regrouping of UK railways to form part of The Great Western Railway , one of the "Big Four" railway...
between Llynclys
Llynclys
Llynclys is a small village in Shropshire, England, in the civil parish of Llanyblodwel. It lies north of Pant at the crossroads of the A483 and B4396, where there are several houses and a pub, the White Lion....
and Pant
Pant, Shropshire
Pant is a village in Shropshire, England. It lies near the border with Wales. Pant means 'hollow' in Welsh: it is directly below the disused mines at Llanymynech Rocks Nature Reserve....
. The Telford Steam Railway and the Cambrian Railways Trust's line are both expanding at the present.
The Cambrian Railway Society
Cambrian Railway Society
The Cambrian Railways Society in Oswestry, Shropshire, England, plans to restore the former branch line from Blodwel to a new at Llynclys Junction as a heritage railway. This adjoins the former Nantmawr branch line....
, based in Oswestry, plans to restore part of the Potteries, Shrewsbury & North Wales Railway at Nantmawr
Nantmawr
Nantmawr is a village in Shropshire, England. It is located about 8 km south west of Oswestry and close to the Welsh border. The Offa's Dyke Path runs through the village....
for use as a heritage railway. The Society currently have an operating base in Oswestry, by the side of the Gobowen to Blodwell line, with a small collection of locos and rolling stock.
As well as the heritage only lines, the national lines of Shropshire witness a regular number of special charter trains with heritage diesel and steam locomotives and historic carriage stock in operation.
Stations
Here are listed the 19 National RailNational 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...
stations in current use in the county.
| Station | Place | 2009/10 usage | 2008/09 usage | Managed by | Co-ordinates | Line | Distance from Shrewsbury | Platforms | Request stop? | DFT station category United Kingdom railway station categories The 2,535 railway stations on the National Rail network in the United Kingdom are classified into six categories and four subcategories by the Department for Transport. The scheme was devised in 1996 and there was a review in 2009 when 106 stations changed categories. The categorisation scheme is... |
| Albrighton railway station Albrighton railway station Albrighton railway station, on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line, serves the large village of Albrighton in Shropshire, England. The former up goods yard is now occupied by a small estate of low rise offices.-History:... |
Albrighton Albrighton, Bridgnorth Albrighton is a large village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It is located to the northwest of Wolverhampton and is best described as a dormitory village for the city... |
77240 | 77216 | London Midland London Midland London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007.... |
52.63778°N 2.2683°W | Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton | 35 km (21¾ miles) | 2 | No | F2 |
| Broome railway station Broome railway station Broome railway station is a railway station serving the villages of Broome and Aston on Clun, in Shropshire, England. It is situated on the Heart of Wales Line, 22¾ miles south west of... |
Broome Broome, Shropshire Broome is a small village in the parish of Hopesay, Shropshire, England.It has a railway station and is near to Aston on Clun, Clungunford and Craven Arms. There is a pub - the Engine and Tender the heart and soul to broome is this pub and you can visit the pubs webpage on... / Aston on Clun Aston on Clun Aston on Clun is a village in Shropshire, England. Population: 253.It lies near to the River Clun, on the B4368, in between the towns of Clun and Craven Arms. The village of Broome, which has a railway station, is also close by. It is in the parish of Hopesay.... |
1622 | 1830 | Arriva Trains Wales Arriva Trains Wales Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches... |
52.423°N 2.885°W | Heart of Wales | 36.5 km (22¾ miles) | 1 | Yes | F2 |
| Bucknell railway station Bucknell railway station Bucknell railway station serves the village of Bucknell in Shropshire, England 28¼ miles south west of Shrewsbury.This railway station is located at street level, adjacent to the level crossing and parallel with Weston Road near the centre of the village... |
Bucknell Bucknell, Shropshire Bucknell is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. The village lies on the River Redlake, within 600 metres of the River Teme and close to the borders with Wales and Herefordshire... |
3798 | 3482 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.3573°N 2.948°W | Heart of Wales | 45.5 km (28¼ miles) | 1 | Yes | F2 |
| Church Stretton railway station Church Stretton railway station Church Stretton railway station is a railway station serving the town of Church Stretton in Shropshire, England. It is situated on the Welsh Marches Line, 12¾ miles south of Shrewsbury railway station, while trains on the Heart of Wales Line also serve the station... |
Church Stretton Church Stretton Church Stretton is a small town and civil parish in Shropshire, England. The population of the town was recorded as 2,789 in 2001, whilst the population of the wider parish was recorded as 4,186... |
117812 | 125024 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.537°N 2.803°W | Welsh Marches | 20.5 km (12¾ miles) | 2 | No | F1 |
| Cosford railway station Cosford railway station Cosford railway station is a two platform station on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line serving Cosford in Shropshire, England. The station buildings at platform level are a little unusual compared with other stations on the line in that they are constructed entirely of timber... |
Cosford Cosford, Shropshire Cosford is a village in Shropshire, England. It lies between the town of Shifnal and the large village of Albrighton, in the parish of Donington... (alight for DCAE Cosford & Air Museum Royal Air Force Museum Cosford The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is a museum dedicated to the history of aviation, and the Royal Air Force in particular. The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and a registered charity... ) |
84988 | 74830 | London Midland | 52.6448°N 2.3°W | Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton | 32.5 km (20¼ miles) | 2 | No | F2 |
| Craven Arms railway station Craven Arms railway station Craven Arms railway station serves the small town of Craven Arms in Shropshire, England. Until 1974 it was known as "Craven Arms and Stokesay", named after the nearby coaching inn and the historic settlement of Stokesay to the south... |
Craven Arms Craven Arms Craven Arms is a small town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, located on the A49 road and the Welsh Marches railway line, which connect it north and south to the larger towns of Shrewsbury and Ludlow respectively. The Heart of Wales railway line joins the Welsh Marches line at Craven Arms... |
95908 | 103024 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.442°N 2.837°W | Welsh Marches (junction with Heart of Wales) | 32 km (19.9 mi) | 2 | No | F1 |
| Gobowen railway station Gobowen railway station Gobowen railway station is a railway station on the Shrewsbury to Chester Line serving the village of Gobowen in Shropshire, England. It is the nearest station to the town of Oswestry., train services run on two routes;... |
Gobowen Gobowen Gobowen is a large village in Shropshire, England, of population 3,927 .-History:The village was previously called Bryn-y-Castell, but the name in time changed to Gobowen. The name Gobowen is believed to originate from Gob and Owen who was believed to have rested his weary head there... (bus service to Oswestry Oswestry Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads.... ) |
193032 | 186988 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.8935°N 3.0371°W | Shrewsbury-Chester | 28.5 km (17¾ miles) | 2 | No | E |
| Hopton Heath railway station Hopton Heath railway station Hopton Heath railway station is a railway station in Hopton Heath, a hamlet in Shropshire, England... 1 |
Hopton Heath Hopton Heath Hopton Heath, or Hoptonheath, is a hamlet in Shropshire, England. The border with Herefordshire is close by. It lies on the border of the civil parishes of Clungunford and Hopton Castle.... |
680 | 1268 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.3915°N 2.912°W | Heart of Wales | 41 km (25½ miles) | 1 | Yes | F2 |
| Knighton railway station Knighton railway station Knighton railway station serves the market town of Knighton in Powys, Wales, although the station itself is located in Shropshire, England . It lies south west of Shrewsbury .... |
Knighton2 | 23338 | 22778 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.345°N 3.042°W | Heart of Wales | 52.5 km (32½ miles) | 2 | No | F1 |
| Ludlow railway station Ludlow railway station Ludlow railway station serves the town of Ludlow in Shropshire, England, on the Welsh Marches Line from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central. Trains are operated by Arriva Trains Wales.... |
Ludlow Ludlow Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place... |
270682 | 287800 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.371°N 2.716°W | Welsh Marches | 44 km (27½ miles) | 2 | No | E |
| Oakengates railway station Oakengates railway station Oakengates railway station serves the town of Oakengates, part of the new town of Telford, England. It lies on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line and has two platforms... |
Oakengates Oakengates Oakengates is a town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, and now forms part of the new town of Telford... |
37682 | 32576 | London Midland | 52.693°N 2.450°W | Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton | 21.5 km (13½ miles) | 2 | No | F2 |
| Prees railway station Prees railway station Prees railway station serves the village of Prees in Shropshire, England, although the actual village is a mile to the east of the station. The station is north of Shrewsbury on the Welsh Marches Line towards Crewe.... |
near Prees Prees, Shropshire Prees is a village and civil parish in north Shropshire, near the border between England and Wales. Its name is Celtic and means "brushwood".... |
8362 | 8112 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.8992°N 2.6895°W | Welsh Marches | 22.5 km (14 mi) | 2 | Yes | F2 |
| Shifnal railway station Shifnal railway station Shifnal railway station is a station on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line serving the town of Shifnal in Shropshire, England. Trains are about hourly off-peak.... |
Shifnal Shifnal Shifnal is a small market town in Shropshire, England. It forms part of The Wrekin constituency, and is about east of Telford. It has a railway station on the Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton Line and is near to the M54 motorway.-Early medieval time:... |
100716 | 100746 | London Midland | 52.666°N 2.372°W | Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton | 28 km (17¼ miles) | 2 | No | F2 |
| Shrewsbury railway station Shrewsbury railway station Shrewsbury railway station is the railway station serving Shrewsbury, county town of Shropshire, England. It is the only remaining railway station in the town; Shrewsbury Abbey, as well as other small stations around the town, having long closed. The station was built in 1848 and has been extended... |
Shrewsbury Shrewsbury Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council... |
1630474 | 1595812 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.712°N 2.75°W | Junction of several lines | n/a | 5 | No | C1 |
| Telford Central railway station Telford Central railway station Telford Central railway station serves the new town of Telford, England. It is situated close to the town centre, the main commercial district of the town... |
Telford Telford Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham... Town Centre |
972162 | 941068 | London Midland | 52.681°N 2.441°W | Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton | 23 km (14¼ miles) | 2 | No | C2 |
| Wellington (Shropshire) railway station Wellington (Shropshire) railway station Wellington railway station serves the town of Wellington, Shropshire, England. It is situated on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line. Trains are operated by London Midland and Arriva Trains Wales.-History:... |
Wellington Wellington, Shropshire Wellington is a town in the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England and now forms part of the new town of Telford. The population of the parish of Wellington was recorded as 20,430 in the 2001 census, making it the third largest town in Shropshire if... |
533368 | 495368 | London Midland | 52.7015°N 2.517°W | Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton | 16 km (9.9 mi) | 3 | No | E |
| Wem railway station Wem railway station Wem railway station serves the town of Wem in Shropshire, England. The station is 17 km north of Shrewsbury on the Welsh Marches Line line to Crewe.... |
Wem Wem Wem is a small market town in Shropshire, England. It is the administrative centre for the northern area committee of Shropshire Council, which has its headquarters at Edinburgh House in the centre of Wem. Wem railway station is on the Shrewsbury to Crewe railway line... |
103370 | 100244 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.856°N 2.719°W | Welsh Marches | 17 km (10¾ miles) | 2 | No | F1 |
| Whitchurch (Shropshire) railway station | Whitchurch Whitchurch, Shropshire Whitchurch is a market town in Shropshire, England on the border between England and Wales. It is the oldest continuously inhabited town in Shropshire. According to the 2001 Census, the population of the town is 8,673, with a more recent estimate putting the population of the town at 8,934... |
97122 | 92126 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.968°N 2.6716°W | Welsh Marches | 30 km (18¾ miles) | 2 | No | F1 |
| Yorton railway station Yorton railway station Yorton railway station serves the villages of Yorton and Clive in Shropshire, England. It is 11.5 km north of Shrewsbury on the Welsh Marches Line towards Crewe. It has two platforms. Trains only stop here upon request.... |
Yorton / Clive Clive, Shropshire Clive is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England, United Kingdom.Clive is situated around the west side of Grinshill Hill, with many in a rural setting. Grinshill sandstone, from the nearby mine at Grinshill is used throughout the village for building material from walls and houses to the... |
8166 | 9008 | Arriva Trains Wales | 52.809°N 2.736°W | Welsh Marches | 11.5 km (7¼ miles) | 2 | Yes | F2 |
1 Sometimes written as "Hoptonheath".
2 Although the town of Knighton is in Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, the railway station is in Shropshire, England.
Tunnels
- Oakengates Tunnel - the longest tunnel in the county, located between Oakengates and Telford Central stations, on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line
- Ludlow Tunnel - a short tunnel just to the south of Ludlow station, on the Welsh Marches Line
- Heath Hill Tunnel - located between Lawley Common and Horsehay on the Telford Steam Railway, this tunnel was reopened to trains with track relayed through it in early 2009, as part of the heritage railway's northward extension to Lawley
- Knowlesands TunnelKnowlesands TunnelKnowlesands Tunnel is a very short railway tunnel between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade on the Severn Valley Railway in Shropshire, England. It has always only carried a single track although constructed so two lines of standard gauge track could pass through it....
- a very short tunnel on the Severn Valley Railway, located between Bridgnorth and Hampton LoadeHampton LoadeHampton Loade is a village in Shropshire, England along the Severn Valley. It is situated on the east bank of the River Severn at , and is notable for the unusual current-operated Hampton Loade Ferry, a cable ferry to the hamlet of Hampton on the west bank...
A notable disused tunnel exists running beneath High Town of Bridgnorth, which once carried the railway from Bridgnorth station northwards towards the Ironbridge Gorge
Ironbridge Gorge
The Ironbridge Gorge is a deep gorge formed by the River Severn in Shropshire, England.Originally called the Severn Gorge, the gorge now takes its name from its famous Iron Bridge, the first iron bridge of its kind in the world, and a monument to the industry that began there...
. The tunnel continues to be maintained and is in good condition. There is the possibility of the Severn Valley Railway extending northwards through the tunnel, with the tunnel's owner BRB (Residuary) Ltd offering the heritage railway first refusal, however there would be substantial difficulties in reinstating the railway beyond the tunnel to the north of Bridgnorth.