Closed/Under Threat Stations Watchlist

[flitwickbeds]

Similar to the New Stations Calendar thread, I thought it would be a good idea to start a Closed/Under Threat Stations master thread. With the number of stations mothballed recently due to infrastructure issues and therefore temporarily closed by stealth, combined with stations which haven't seen a train for nearly 20 years but remain officially open, and reports of severe timetable cuts in May 2023, this list will be updated as news is confirmed.

Name	Status	Last Train	Notes	Discussion
Altnabreac [ABC]	Closed "for the foreseeable future"	12 Nov 2023	Closed due to access dispute to enable maintenance	November 2023
Ardwick [ADK]	Open, 2tpd	-	Footbridge replaced January 2024
Barlaston [BRT]	Mothballed	23 May 2004	Along with Wedgwood	September 2016
Berney Arms [BYA]	Open, 3tpd	-		December 2016
Bordesley [BBS]	Open, 1tpw	-	Heavily increased service on football match days	February 2021
Buckenham [BUC]	Open	-
Clifton [CLI]	Open, 2tpd			April 2017
Coombe Junction Halt [COE]	Open, 4tpd	-		April 2013
Cottingley [COT]	Open	-	White Rose opening nearby soon	July 2021
Denton [DTN]	Open, 2tpw	-	Along with Reddish South	July 2022
Elton and Orston [ELO]	Open, 2tpd	-
Havenhouse [HVN]	Open, 4tpd	-
IBM [IBM]	Mothballed	08 Dec 2018	IBM factory closed	November 2018
Ince and Elton [INE]	Open, 4tpd	-
Lakenheath [LAK]	Open, 9tpw	-		February 2017
Lelant Saltings [LTS]	Open, 2tpd	-	Original purpose to station (Park and ride to St Ives) removed after relocation of P+R	May 2019
Manchester United FC Halt [MUF]	No service at police/football club request	Dec 2017		April 2019
Pilning [PIL]	Open, 2tpw.	-	No westbound access due to removed footbridge	January 2011
Polesworth [PSW]	Open, 1tpd	-	No southbound access due to removed footbridge	August 2014
Pontefract Baghill [PFR]	Open, 6tpd	-	increased from 2tpd to 6tpd in May 2023	January 2012
Redcar British Steel [RBS]	Mothballed	14 Dec 2019	Factory closed	September 2019
Reddish South [RDS]	Open, 2tpw	-	Along with Denton	July 2022
Salwick [SLW]	Open, 6tpd	-	Industry closed
Sankey for Penketh [SNK]	Open, 4tpd	-	Nearby Warrington West opened
Shippea Hill [SPP]	Open, 7tpw	-
Stanlow and Thornton [SNT]	No service due to dangerous footbridge Low service levels, few passengers	03 Feb 2022		January 2023
Stranraer [STR]	Open	-	Remains open but ferry operations moved to Cairnryan with a bus to/from Ayr. August 2023 - only one train a day to Glasgow, none from Glasgow, rest to/from Ayr or Kilwinning.
Teesside Airport [TEA]	No service due to dangerous platforms. Parliamentary service.	08 May 2022		April 2022
Wedgwood [WED]	Mothballed	23 May 2004	Along with Barlaston	September 2016

 

[zwk500]

The Marston Vale stations are more under threat from EWR than Vivarail's administration. The proposals for rebuilding/moving some stations are still under discussion IIRC.

Are trains with low service really under threat? When did the last station close because of actual lack of usage rather than infrastructure failure?
Stations like Polesworth and Pilning I agree should be noted as they only have a service in one direction

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Thought Shippea Hill had 1 train per day on weekdays (normally the 0726 to Norwich) with, in addition on Saturdays to the 0725 for Norwich, an afternoon 1615 service to Cambridge. So, a massive 7 trains per week.

 

[Trainfan2019]

Good idea for a thread actually.

What about the status of IBM, Peartree, Bordesley stations?

 

[ainsworth74]

What about the status of IBM

IBM is shown as mothballed in the list which is the current state of play as far as I'm aware!

 

[43066]

Is Spondon a suitable candidate for this?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Is Spondon a suitable candidate for this?

Why? Usually some 22 departures per day during the week.

 

[Revilo]

IBM is shown as mothballed in the list which is the current state of play as far as I'm aware!

Great thread, and useful links to the other discussions too. I think the confusion re IBM is it’s not alphabetically in order.

 

[SargeNpton]

For Barlaston and Wedgwood perhaps you need to note that, though trains do not call, rail tickets are still sold - being valid on local buses from either Stone or Stoke on Trent.

 

[43066]

Why? Usually some 22 departures per day during the week.

Perhaps not then - apologies - I had formed the impression virtually nothing stopped there and there was a replacement bus service in operation?

 

[The Planner]

Good idea for a thread actually.

What about the status of IBM, Peartree, Bordesley stations?

Bordesley definitely, if Midlands Rail Hub progresses then its dead.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Sampford Courtney, last served 8/9/19.
Teesside Airport last served 8/5/22

 

[station_road]

Good idea for a thread actually.

What about the status of IBM, Peartree, Bordesley stations?

There are no proposals to close Peartree (or to increase service levels either, to be fair)

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Brigg / Kirton Lindsey. I would suggest "unserved between x and y dates", or "rail service suspended between x and y dates" rather than closed. Closed has a legal definition, they weren't and hopefully won't be. That's the whole point - things being sneaked through as 'closures' without going through formal closure proceedings.

Barlaston and Wedgwood I would suggest "rail service suspended since z". With or without mention of rail tickets / rail replacement bus service.
The other 'mothballed' stations I would suggest "rail service suspended since [whenever date]".

Passenger service suspended could be an alternative to rail service suspended.

Weymouth Quay, can anyone provide evidence (not Wikipedia!) that this station is formally closed, rather than merely Temporarily Out of Use since 2007 - obviously it physically is and the track to it removed in 2020.

 

[zwk500]

Weymouth Quay, can anyone provide evidence (not Wikipedia!) that this station is formally closed, rather than merely Temporarily Out of Use since 2007 - obviously it physically is and the track to it removed in 2020.

There's no closure consultation listed on the Government website.

 

[swt_passenger]

There's no closure consultation listed on the Government website.

I believe Weymouth Quay station itself had already closed well before the modern closure procedures, (ie as per the 2005 Act), were in place, and that’s why there’s no online information.

 

[zwk500]

I believe Weymouth Quay station itself had already closed well before the modern closure procedures, (ie as per the 2005 Act), were in place, and that’s why there’s no online information.

Although there's not a consultation for the branch either, and that was only declared Temporarily Out of Use in 2007.

 

[ainsworth74]

The dangerous (because you can fall down lots of rabbit holes) Disused Stations site suggests that Weymouth Quay's last scheduled services were in 1987 (with a few railtours until 1999 and what sounds like a Parry People Mover experiment 1997) so I wonder if the station closed officially in the late 80s?

 

[SargeNpton]

Sampford Courtney, last served 8/9/19.
Teesside Airport last served 8/5/22

Sampford Courtenay (spelling) closed in 1972. It subsequently became a station on the private Dartmoor Railway.

When Network Rail took over the track it did not take over that station and there are no plans to do so.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

The dangerous (because you can fall down lots of rabbit holes) Disused Stations site suggests that Weymouth Quay's last scheduled services were in 1987 (with a few railtours until 1999 and what sounds like a Parry People Mover experiment 1997) so I wonder if the station closed officially in the late 80s?

Dangerous indeed because one incorrect assumption however well intentioned then gets transferred across to other sources of online information and becomes accepted as 'the word'.

The official DfT list:

LIST OF DATES FROM 1 JANUARY 1985 TO 20 JANUARY 2006 OF LAST PASSENGER TRAINS AT CLOSED BR (OR NETWORK RAIL STATIONS SINCE PRIVATISATION)
The list is complete and accurate to the best of the Department for Transport’s knowledge.

does not feature the word Weymouth!

 

[ainsworth74]

Dangerous indeed because one incorrect assumption however well intentioned then gets transferred across to other sources of online information and becomes accepted as 'the word'.

The official DfT list:

does not feature the word Weymouth!

Though of course the DfT themselves have gone so far as to say: "to the best of the Department for Transport’s knowledge"!

What's the link to that list by the by?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Sampford Courtenay (spelling) closed in 1972. It subsequently became a station on the private Dartmoor Railway.

When Network Rail took over the track it did not take over that station and there are no plans to do so.

But it was served seasonally by National Rail trains and featured in the annual usage statistics between 2011/12 and 2020/21. So it falls into the awkward 'privately owned stations served by public passenger services' pigeonhole like Fishguard Harbour.

 

[InkyScrolls]

Similar to the New Stations Calendar thread, I thought it would be a good idea to start a Closed/Under Threat Stations master thread. With the number of stations mothballed recently due to infrastructure issues and therefore temporarily closed by stealth, combined with stations which haven't seen a train for nearly 20 years but remain officially open, and reports of severe timetable cuts in May 2023, this list will be updated as news is confirmed.

Name	Status	Last Train	Notes	Discussion
Ardwick [ADK]	Open, 2tpd	-
Aspley Guise [APG]	No service due to administration of Vivarail	01 Dec 2022	Marston Vale line	November 2022
Barlaston [BRT]	Mothballed	23 May 2004	Along with Wedgwood	September 2016
Bedford St John's [BSJ]	No service due to administration of Vivarail	01 Dec 2022	Marston Vale line	November 2022
Berney Arms [BYA]	Open, 3tpd	-		December 2016
Brigg [BGG]	Reopened January 2023 after year long closure of line	-	Along with Kirton Lindsey	December 2022
Bow Brickhill [BWB]	No service due to administration of Vivarail	01 Dec 2022	Marston Vale line	November 2022
Buckenham [BUC]	Open	-
Clifton [CLI]	Open, 2tpd			April 2017
Coombe Junction Halt [COE]	Open, 4tpd	-		April 2013
Cottingley [COT]	Open	-	White Rose opening nearby soon	July 2021
Denton [DTN]	Open, 2tpw	-	Along with Reddish South	July 2022
Fenny Stratford [FEN]	No service due to administration of Vivarail	01 Dec 2022	Marston Vale line	November 2022
IBM [IBM]	Mothballed	08 Dec 2018	IBM factory closed	November 2018
Ince and Elton [INE]	Open, 4tpd	-
Havehouse [HVN]	Open, 4tpd	-
Kempston Hardwick [KMH]	No service due to administration of Vivarail	01 Dec 2022	Marston Vale line	November 2022
Kirton Lindsey [KTL]	Reopened January 2023 after year long closure of line	-	Along with Brigg	December 2022
Lakenheath [LAK]	Open, 9tpw	-		February 2017
Lelant Saltings [LTS]	Open, 2tpd	-	Original purpose to station (Park and ride to St Ives) removed after relocation of P+R	May 2019
Lidlington [LID]	No service due to administration of Vivarail	01 Dec 2022	Marston Vale line	November 2022
Manchester United FC Halt [MUF]	No service at police/football club request	Dec 2017		April 2019
Millbrook [MLB]	No service due to administration of Vivarail	01 Dec 2022	Marston Vale line	November 2022
Pilning [PIL]	Open, 2tpw.	-		January 2011
Polesworth [PSW]	Open, 1tpd	-	No southbound access due to removed footbridge	August 2014
Pontefract Baghill [PFR]	Open, 2tpd	-		January 2012
Redcar British Steel [RBS]	Mothballed	14 Dec 2019	Factory closed	September 2019
Reddish South [RDS]	Open, 2tpw	-	Along with Denton	July 2022
Ridgmont [RID]	No service due to administration of Vivarail	01 Dec 2022	Marston Vale line	November 2022
Salwick [SLW]	Open, 6tpd	-	Industry closed
Sankey for Penketh [SNK]	Open, 4tpd	-	Nearby Warrington West opened
Shippea Hill [SPP]	Open, 7tpw	-
Stanlow and Thornton [SNT]	No service due to dangerous footbridge Low service levels, few passengers	03 Feb 2022		January 2023
Stewartby [SWR]	No service due to administration of Vivarail	01 Dec 2022	Marston Vale line	November 2022
Teesside Airport [TEA]	No service due to dangerous platforms. Parliamentary service.	May 2022		April 2022
Wedgwood [WED]	Mothballed	23 May 2004	Along with Barlaston	September 2016
Woburn Sands [WOB]	No service due to administration of Vivarail	01 Dec 2022	Marston Vale line	November 2022

Worth adding Wennington? Temporary closure of down platform due to unsafe footbridge.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Though of course the DfT themselves have gone so far as to say: "to the best of the Department for Transport’s knowledge"!

What's the link to that list by the by?

I can sell you a copy!

The list comes from a FOI request that I found on-line.

OK, I relent for the moderating team, text cut and pasted from a pdf. The first line RAILWAY CLOSURES... does not actually appear on the document!

RAILWAY CLOSURES UNDER THE TRANSPORT ACT 1962
LIST OF DATES FROM 1 JANUARY 1985 TO 20 JANUARY 2006 OF LAST PASSENGER TRAINS AT CLOSED BR (OR NETWORK RAIL STATIONS SINCE PRIVATISATION)

The list is complete and accurate to the best of the Department for Transport’s knowledge

New Hadley {1}	13-May-85*​
Errol {1}	30-Sep-85*​
Tiverton Junction {1} (New station opened)	11-May-86*​
Gogarth Halt, Abertafol Halt {2}	14-May-86*​
Broad Street, Dalston Junction {2}	27-Jun-86*​
Cefn Onn {1}	27-Sep-86*​
Balloch Pier {1}	28-Sep-86*​
Royton {1}	08-May-87*​
Rowntree Halt {1}	08-Jul-88*​
Rotherham Masborough {1}	03-Oct-88*​
Llanbadarn, Glanrafon, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen, Aberffrwd, Rheidol Falls, Rhiwfron, Devil’s Bridge {8}	31-Mar-89*​
Melton Halt {1}	08-Jul-89*​
Cargo Fleet {1}	21-Jan-90*​
Altofts {1}	12-May-90*​
Woodlands Road {1}	12 or 13 Jul-91​
Crumpsall, Bowker Vale, Heaton Park, Prestwich, Besses O' Th' barn, Whitefield, Radcliffe, Bury {8}	16-Aug-91​
Llangelynin {1}	25-Oct-91*​
Greatham, Grangetown {2}	24-Nov-91*​
Old Trafford, Warwick Road, Dane Road, Sale, Brooklands, Timperley	24-Dec-91​
Moor Park {1}	Sep 92-May 93**​
Westbourne Park {1}	25-Sep-92*​
Primrose Hill {1}	25-Sep-92*​
Tilbury Riverside {1}	28-Nov-92*​
Elsham, Brocklesby {2}	03-Oct-93*​
Morecambe {1} (New station opened)	May 1994*​
Ditton {1}	27-May-94*​
Pendelton {1}	17 or 18-Jul-94​
Dover Western Docks {1}	24-Sep-94*​
Attercliffe Road, Brightside {2}	28-Jan-95*​
Godley East; Miles Platting; Park {3}	27-May-95*​
Croxley Green, Watford West {2}	March 96​
Smethwick West {1} (New station: Smethwick Galton Bridge opened 200 metres away)	15-Aug-96*.​
Filton {1} (New station: Filton Abbey Wood opened 400 metres away)	14-Feb-97*​
Merton Park, Morden Road, Mitcham, Beddington Lane, Waddon Marsh, Addiscombe, Woodside {7}	31-May-97​
Wrexham Central {1} (New station opened 280 metres away)	27 Aug-97*​
Sinfin North, Sinfin Central {2}	27-Aug-98***​
Mountain Ash {1} (New station opened)	31-Jan-01​
Brockley Whins, East Boldon, Seaburn {3}	30-Mar-02​
Etruria {1}	30-Sep-05​

Notes
*indicates that this may be the date of the closure decision rather than when the last train ran.
**not a BR station. Estimated date that BR trains ceased to use – precise date not known.
***trains ceased several years before.
{} the figure in brackets is the number of stations involved.

 

[flitwickbeds]

Are trains with low service really under threat? When did the last station close because of actual lack of usage rather than infrastructure failure?

Never to my knowledge. But they are linked - the reason the footbridge/platform isn't immediately replaced is because of the perceived low rate of return on 'investment'.

Thought Shippea Hill had 1 train per day on weekdays (normally the 0726 to Norwich) with, in addition on Saturdays to the 0725 for Norwich, an afternoon 1615 service to Cambridge. So, a massive 7 trains per week.

Thanks, missed those. Amended.

Good idea for a thread actually.

What about the status of IBM, Peartree, Bordesley stations?

IBM is shown as mothballed in the list which is the current state of play as far as I'm aware!

I think the confusion re IBM is it’s not alphabetically in order.

Apologies - corrected.

Is Spondon a suitable candidate for this?

No, it now has a good service.

For Barlaston and Wedgwood perhaps you need to note that, though trains do not call, rail tickets are still sold - being valid on local buses from either Stone or Stoke on Trent.

Bordesley definitely, if Midlands Rail Hub progresses then its dead.

Bordesley is a difficult one as it plays a huge role in football trains. However I've now added it to the list with this noted.

Sampford Courtney, last served 8/9/19.
Teesside Airport last served 8/5/22

Thanks - added Teesside Airport date. Ignoring Sampford Courtenay as it was never an open National Rail station to my knowledge.

 

[zwk500]

RAILWAY CLOSURES UNDER THE TRANSPORT ACT 1962
LIST OF DATES FROM 1 JANUARY 1985 TO 20 JANUARY 2006 OF LAST PASSENGER TRAINS AT CLOSED BR (OR NETWORK RAIL STATIONS SINCE PRIVATISATION)

The list is complete and accurate to the best of the Department for Transport’s knowledge

The list doesn't include Groombridge or Tunbridge Wells West, last trains 1 July 1985 so whoever put that list together did so somewhat quickly.

 

[flitwickbeds]

Worth adding Wennington? Temporary closure of down platform due to unsafe footbridge.

Thanks - will add. Do you know when the last train was?

 

[zwk500]

Thanks - will add. Do you know when the last train was?

Trains are still calling in the Up direction, with a bus replacement for the down. Problem seemed to start on or shortly before Started on 13 January: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/wennington-station.241952/

 

[ainsworth74]

I can sell you a copy!

The list comes from a FOI request that I found on-line.

OK, I relent for the moderating team, text cut nd pasted from a pdf:

RAILWAY CLOSURES UNDER THE TRANSPORT ACT 1962
LIST OF DATES FROM 1 JANUARY 1985 TO 20 JANUARY 2006 OF LAST PASSENGER TRAINS AT CLOSED BR (OR NETWORK RAIL STATIONS SINCE PRIVATISATION)

The list is complete and accurate to the best of the Department for Transport’s knowledge

New Hadley {1}	13-May-85*​
Errol {1}	30-Sep-85*​
Tiverton Junction {1} (New station opened)	11-May-86*​
Gogarth Halt, Abertafol Halt {2}	14-May-86*​
Broad Street, Dalston Junction {2}	27-Jun-86*​
Cefn Onn {1}	27-Sep-86*​
Balloch Pier {1}	28-Sep-86*​
Royton {1}	08-May-87*​
Rowntree Halt {1}	08-Jul-88*​
Rotherham Masborough {1}	03-Oct-88*​
Llanbadarn, Glanrafon, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen, Aberffrwd, Rheidol Falls, Rhiwfron, Devil’s Bridge {8}	31-Mar-89*​
Melton Halt {1}	08-Jul-89*​
Cargo Fleet {1}	21-Jan-90*​
Altofts {1}	12-May-90*​
Woodlands Road {1}	12 or 13 Jul-91​
Crumpsall, Bowker Vale, Heaton Park, Prestwich, Besses O' Th' barn, Whitefield, Radcliffe, Bury {8}	16-Aug-91​
Llangelynin {1}	25-Oct-91*​
Greatham, Grangetown {2}	24-Nov-91*​
Old Trafford, Warwick Road, Dane Road, Sale, Brooklands, Timperley	24-Dec-91​
Moor Park {1}	Sep 92-May 93**​
Westbourne Park {1}	25-Sep-92*​
Primrose Hill {1}	25-Sep-92*​
Tilbury Riverside {1}	28-Nov-92*​
Elsham, Brocklesby {2}	03-Oct-93*​
Morecambe {1} (New station opened)	May 1994*​
Ditton {1}	27-May-94*​
Pendelton {1}	17 or 18-Jul-94​
Dover Western Docks {1}	24-Sep-94*​
Attercliffe Road, Brightside {2}	28-Jan-95*​
Godley East; Miles Platting; Park {3}	27-May-95*​
Croxley Green, Watford West {2}	March 96​
Smethwick West {1} (New station: Smethwick Galton Bridge opened 200 metres away)	15-Aug-96*.​
Filton {1} (New station: Filton Abbey Wood opened 400 metres away)	14-Feb-97*​
Merton Park, Morden Road, Mitcham, Beddington Lane, Waddon Marsh, Addiscombe, Woodside {7}	31-May-97​
Wrexham Central {1} (New station opened 280 metres away)	27 Aug-97*​
Sinfin North, Sinfin Central {2}	27-Aug-98***​
Mountain Ash {1} (New station opened)	31-Jan-01​
Brockley Whins, East Boldon, Seaburn {3}	30-Mar-02​
Etruria {1}	30-Sep-05​

Notes
*indicates that this may be the date of the closure decision rather than when the last train ran.
**not a BR station. Estimated date that BR trains ceased to use – precise date not known.
***trains ceased several years before.
{} the figure in brackets is the number of stations involved.

You're very kind

 

[pdeaves]

I can sell you a copy!

The list comes from a FOI request that I found on-line.

OK, I relent for the moderating team, text cut and pasted from a pdf. The first line RAILWAY CLOSURES... does not actually appear on the document!

Somewhat of an aside, the DfT list includes Moor Park ('closure' being to main line services, of course, not London Underground). I have been on Chiltern Railways services that called at Moor Park during Underground disruption; presumably the list implies scheduled/planned timetable services rather than any and every use.