Shipley railway station
Encyclopedia
Shipley railway station serves the town of Shipley
in West Yorkshire
, England
.
Train services are mostly commuter services between Leeds
and Bradford
, the Airedale Line
(Leeds and Bradford to Skipton, via Keighley), and the Wharfedale Line
(Leeds and Bradford to Ilkley). It has a few main-line East Coast
trains between Bradford or Skipton and London, and it also lies on the line from Leeds to Glasgow
via the Settle-Carlisle Railway
. It is staffed during the day, but not into the evening.
built the first railway link into Bradford in 1846
, they did not take the shortest route, but a flatter and slightly longer one up Airedale
to Shipley
then south along Bradforddale to Bradford. They built stations at several places along the route, including Shipley, which opened in July 1846.
In 1847
, the Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
was built from Shipley to Keighley
and Skipton
, creating the triangle of lines which surrounds today's station. The north curve was opened in 1848 and was on a much tighter alignment than the present 1883 curve. The original curve would pass through the car park.
The Leeds and Bradford was absorbed by the Midland Railway
in 1851, and the Midland successively became part of the LMS
and British Railways.
The Ordnance Survey
map of Shipley in 1852
(surveyed between 1847 and 1850) shows the station some 500 m south of the present one, where Valley Road crosses the line to Bradford. However, an article in the Bradford and Wakefield Observer in February 1849 describes the station in its present position. It is not clear if it was moved in its first few years or there is an error on the map.
The present station was built at some time between 1883 and 1892, nestling between the western (Bradford-Skipton) and eastern (Leeds-Bradford) arms of the triangle. It was designed by the Midland's architect
Charles Trubshaw
. Platform 3 (on the Bradford-Leeds arm) was lengthened in 1990, to serve full-length InterCity
trains. The northern (Leeds-Skipton) arm of the triangle is distant from the main station and had no platforms until May 1979. Before then, trains on the Leeds-Shipley-Skipton run had to come through the station to the Bradford branch and reverse. From 1979, there was a single platform there, on the inside of the triangle, so Skipton-Leeds trains had to cross over to reach it. The current platform 1 on the north side was built in 1992.
It is now one of two remaining triangular stations in the UK: the other being Earlestown station
in Merseyside. Ambergate station
was previously triangular but only retains one platform and Queensbury station
was closed to passengers in 1955.
Until the Beeching Axe
closures of 1965, the next stations from Shipley were Saltaire
on the Airedale Line
to the west, Baildon
on the Wharfedale Line
to the North, Apperley Bridge
in the east towards Leeds
, and Frizinghall
in the south towards Bradford
. Baildon station closed in 1953, but on 20 March 1965, the other three of these stations closed, along with another dozen stations and the local service between Bradford and Leeds. Most of the services through Shipley were under threat and hung in the balance until the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
adopted them in the 1970s. Three of these adjacent stations have since been reopened (Baildon on 5 January 1973, Saltaire in April 1984, and Frizinghall in 1987). There are currently no intermediate stations between Shipley and Leeds although there are plans to reopen the station at Apperley Bridge
by 2011.
Between 1875 and 1931, there was a second station, Shipley and Windhill railway station
on Leeds Road very close to Shipley Station.
There are no bus stop
s on the station forecourt: bus connections are either on Briggate/Leeds Road, or in the Market Square. Nor is there a taxi rank within the station: again, passengers need to go into the town centre.
, as part of the MetroTrain
network. During Monday to Saturday daytimes, these operate every 30 minutes on each of the following routes:
In Evenings a half hourly service is maintained between Leeds and Skipton. Ilkley and Skipton to Bradford are hourly. There is no direct service between Leeds and Bradford but a shuttle from Shipley to Bradford connects with Leeds departures. On Sundays, Ilkley/Skipton - Bradford is every 2 hours with Skipton and Bradford to Leeds every hour. These services are operated by Northern Rail
Class 333
electric multiple units.
There are also a number of trains each day from Leeds to Carlisle
(seven on weekdays and three on Sundays) and Morecambe
(four on weekdays, four on Sundays; both routes operated by Northern Rail), and from Bradford Forster Square to London King's Cross (via Leeds), operated by East Coast
.
The station is covered by a Public Address System (PA), voiced by Phil Sayer
.
Shipley, West Yorkshire
Shipley is a town in West Yorkshire, England, by the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, north of Bradford and north-west of Leeds....
in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, 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...
.
Train services are mostly commuter services between Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and Bradford
Bradford
Bradford 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 Airedale Line
Airedale Line
The Airedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the Metro area of northern England. The service is operated by Northern Rail, on the route connecting Leeds and Bradford with Skipton in the North of England. Some services along the line continue to Morecambe or Carlisle...
(Leeds and Bradford to Skipton, via Keighley), and the Wharfedale Line
Wharfedale Line
The Wharfedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service connects Ilkley with Leeds and Bradford, and is operated by Northern Rail. West Yorkshire Metrocards are available for use on the line, covering Zones 3 - 5...
(Leeds and Bradford to Ilkley). It has a few main-line East Coast
East Coast (train operating company)
East Coast is a British train operating company running high-speed passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London, Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland...
trains between Bradford or Skipton and London, and it also lies on the line from Leeds to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
via the Settle-Carlisle Railway
Settle-Carlisle Railway
The Settle–Carlisle Line is a long main railway line in northern England. It is also known as the Settle and Carlisle. It is a part of the National Rail network and was constructed in the 1870s...
. It is staffed during the day, but not into the evening.
History
When the Leeds and Bradford RailwayLeeds and Bradford Railway
The Leeds and Bradford Railway was formed in 1843 to bring the railway to Bradford: the line opened on 1 July 1846. The company was always closely allied with the Midland Railway, and within ten years the L&BR had been absorbed into the Midland, and disappeared.-History:The line and the two...
built the first railway link into Bradford in 1846
1846 in rail transport
-January events:* January 13 - Opening of the Milan–Venice railway's bridge over the Venetian Lagoon between Mestre and Venice in Italy.-March events:* March 26 - John M...
, they did not take the shortest route, but a flatter and slightly longer one up Airedale
Airedale
Airedale is a geographic area in Yorkshire, England, corresponding to the river valley of the River Aire . The valley stretches from the river's origin in Malham which is in the Yorkshire Dales, down past Keighley and Bingley, through Leeds and Castleford and on to join the Humber...
to Shipley
Shipley, West Yorkshire
Shipley is a town in West Yorkshire, England, by the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, north of Bradford and north-west of Leeds....
then south along Bradforddale to Bradford. They built stations at several places along the route, including Shipley, which opened in July 1846.
In 1847
1847 in rail transport
- February events :* February 26 – The Somerville and Easton Railroad, a predecessor of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, is chartered.-March events:* March 9 – The Richmond and Danville Railroad is chartered in Virginia....
, the Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
The Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway was an early British railway company in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It built a line from near Bradford through and to...
was built from Shipley to Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
and Skipton
Skipton
Skipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
, creating the triangle of lines which surrounds today's station. The north curve was opened in 1848 and was on a much tighter alignment than the present 1883 curve. The original curve would pass through the car park.
The Leeds and Bradford was absorbed by the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The 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....
in 1851, and the Midland successively became part of the LMS
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...
and British Railways.
The Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
map of Shipley in 1852
1852 in rail transport
-July events:* July 14 - Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Chepstow Bridge is opened to traffic, completing the South Wales Railway throughout from Gloucester to Swansea.-October events:...
(surveyed between 1847 and 1850) shows the station some 500 m south of the present one, where Valley Road crosses the line to Bradford. However, an article in the Bradford and Wakefield Observer in February 1849 describes the station in its present position. It is not clear if it was moved in its first few years or there is an error on the map.
The present station was built at some time between 1883 and 1892, nestling between the western (Bradford-Skipton) and eastern (Leeds-Bradford) arms of the triangle. It was designed by the Midland's architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Charles Trubshaw
Charles Trubshaw
Charles Trubshaw was an architect specifically associated with railway buildings on the London and North Western Railway and Midland Railway lines...
. Platform 3 (on the Bradford-Leeds arm) was lengthened in 1990, to serve full-length InterCity
InterCity
InterCity is the classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe...
trains. The northern (Leeds-Skipton) arm of the triangle is distant from the main station and had no platforms until May 1979. Before then, trains on the Leeds-Shipley-Skipton run had to come through the station to the Bradford branch and reverse. From 1979, there was a single platform there, on the inside of the triangle, so Skipton-Leeds trains had to cross over to reach it. The current platform 1 on the north side was built in 1992.
It is now one of two remaining triangular stations in the UK: the other being Earlestown station
Earlestown railway station
Earlestown railway station is a railway station in Earlestown, Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside, England. Since recent restoration of a platform for Warrington Bank Quay to Liverpool trains, it is one of the few "triangular" stations in Britain ....
in Merseyside. Ambergate station
Ambergate railway station
Ambergate railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It serves the village of Ambergate in Derbyshire...
was previously triangular but only retains one platform and Queensbury station
Queensbury railway station
Queensbury railway station was a station on The Queensbury Lines serving the village of Queensbury, West Yorkshire, England. The station was unusual due to its triangular shape, and at its opening the only other example of this arrangement was Ambergate station in Derbyshire; since then Shipley...
was closed to passengers in 1955.
Until the Beeching Axe
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...
closures of 1965, the next stations from Shipley were Saltaire
Saltaire railway station
Saltaire railway station serves the village of Saltaire near Shipley in West Yorkshire, England.-History:The original station was opened in May 1856 by the Midland Railway, which had absorbed the Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway between Shipley and Colne in 1851...
on the Airedale Line
Airedale Line
The Airedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the Metro area of northern England. The service is operated by Northern Rail, on the route connecting Leeds and Bradford with Skipton in the North of England. Some services along the line continue to Morecambe or Carlisle...
to the west, Baildon
Baildon railway station
Baildon railway station serves the town of Baildon near Shipley in West Yorkshire, England. The station re-opened on 5 January 1973, having been closed for exactly 20 years, and is north of Bradford Forster Square on the Wharfedale Line...
on the Wharfedale Line
Wharfedale Line
The Wharfedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service connects Ilkley with Leeds and Bradford, and is operated by Northern Rail. West Yorkshire Metrocards are available for use on the line, covering Zones 3 - 5...
to the North, Apperley Bridge
Apperley Bridge railway station
Apperley Bridge was a station on the line between Leeds and Shipley, West Yorkshire, England, between 1846 and 1965...
in the east towards Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, and Frizinghall
Frizinghall railway station
Frizinghall railway station is situated in the Frizinghall district of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The station, an unstaffed halt north of Bradford Forster Square is on the Airedale Line, and all trains serving it are operated by Northern Rail....
in the south towards Bradford
Bradford
Bradford 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...
. Baildon station closed in 1953, but on 20 March 1965, the other three of these stations closed, along with another dozen stations and the local service between Bradford and Leeds. Most of the services through Shipley were under threat and hung in the balance until the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
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...
adopted them in the 1970s. Three of these adjacent stations have since been reopened (Baildon on 5 January 1973, Saltaire in April 1984, and Frizinghall in 1987). There are currently no intermediate stations between Shipley and Leeds although there are plans to reopen the station at Apperley Bridge
Apperley Bridge
Apperley Bridge is a village in the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford, in West Yorkshire, England. Apperley Bridge is north-east of Bradford on the boundary with the City of Leeds bounded in part in the east by Carr Beck and to the south by Greengates. The village of Apperley Bridge...
by 2011.
Between 1875 and 1931, there was a second station, Shipley and Windhill railway station
Shipley and Windhill railway station
Shipley and Windhill railway station was a railway station in Shipley, West Yorkshire, England between 1875 and 1931.During the 1860s, two small railway companies were formed to promote suburban railways in Bradford, the Bradford, Eccleshill and Idle Railway and the Idle and Shipley Railway...
on Leeds Road very close to Shipley Station.
Access
The station lies a little to the east of the town centre, across Otley Road, There is no access directly from Otley Road: pedestrian access from town is either via a tunnel at the bottom of Station Road, or from Stead Street onto platform 1. Vehicular access is from the side away from town, under the bridge and up a long cobbled drive from Briggate, and there is a large car-park between the main station and platforms 1/2.There are no bus stop
Bus stop
A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or leave a bus. These are normally positioned on the highway and are distinct from off-highway facilities such as bus stations. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage...
s on the station forecourt: bus connections are either on Briggate/Leeds Road, or in the Market Square. Nor is there a taxi rank within the station: again, passengers need to go into the town centre.
Services
Most of the services are commuter services operated by Northern RailNorthern 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...
, as part of the MetroTrain
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...
network. During Monday to Saturday daytimes, these operate every 30 minutes on each of the following routes:
- LeedsLeeds City railway stationLeeds railway station is the mainline railway station serving the city centre of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England...
-Bradford Forster SquareBradford Forster Square railway stationBradford Forster Square station is a railway station in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The majority of services to/from the station use Class 333 electrified trains operated by Northern Rail, on the Airedale Line to Skipton, the Wharfedale Line to Ilkley and the Leeds-Bradford Line to Leeds.The...
; - Leeds-SkiptonSkipton railway stationSkipton railway station serves the town of Skipton in North Yorkshire, England on the Airedale Line. It is operated by Northern Rail and is situated north-west of Leeds....
; - Bradford Forster Square-Skipton;
- Bradford Forster Square-IlkleyIlkley railway stationIlkley railway station is a railway station in Ilkley, in the City of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. On the Wharfedale Line, it is served by Class 333 electric trains run by Northern Rail, who also manage the station.-Services:...
.
In Evenings a half hourly service is maintained between Leeds and Skipton. Ilkley and Skipton to Bradford are hourly. There is no direct service between Leeds and Bradford but a shuttle from Shipley to Bradford connects with Leeds departures. On Sundays, Ilkley/Skipton - Bradford is every 2 hours with Skipton and Bradford to Leeds every hour. These services are operated by Northern Rail
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...
Class 333
British Rail Class 333
The British Rail Class 333 electric multiple units were built by Siemens and CAF are based on the Class 332 trains operated by Heathrow Express.-Description:...
electric multiple units.
There are also a number of trains each day from Leeds to Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
(seven on weekdays and three on Sundays) and Morecambe
Morecambe railway station
Morecambe railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Morecambe in Lancashire, England. It is located on the Morecambe Branch Line from to Heysham. The current truncated two-platform station was opened in 1994 to replace the Midland Railway's earlier terminus situated some...
(four on weekdays, four on Sundays; both routes operated by Northern Rail), and from Bradford Forster Square to London King's Cross (via Leeds), operated by East Coast
East Coast (train operating company)
East Coast is a British train operating company running high-speed passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London, Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland...
.
The station is covered by a Public Address System (PA), voiced by Phil Sayer
Phil Sayer
Phil Sayer is a British professional voice artist. Since 2003, he has been one half of the Sayer Hamilton voice studio, in partnership with his wife, Elinor Hamilton...
.