Saltaire railway station serves the Victorian model village of Saltaire near Shipley in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated 3+1⁄2 miles (6 km) north of Bradford Forster Square.
Saltaire  | |
|---|---|
 Looking down the entrance ramp | |
| General information | |
| Location | Saltaire, City of Bradford England |
| Coordinates | 53°50′19″N 1°47′25″W / 53.8385°N 1.7904°W |
| Grid reference | SE138380 |
| Managed by | Northern Trains |
| Transit authority | West Yorkshire (Metro) |
| Platforms | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Station code | SAE |
| Fare zone | 3 |
| Classification | DfT category F1 |
| History | |
| Original company | Midland Railway |
| Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
| Key dates | |
| May 1856 | opened |
| 20 March 1965 | closed |
| 9 April 1984 | reopened |
| Passengers | |
| 2018/19 |  0.900 million |
| 2019/20 | 0.887 million |
| 2020/21 | 0.218 million |
| 2021/22 |  0.547 million |
| 2022/23 | 0.636 million |
| Location | |
 | |
| Notes | |
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road | |
History edit
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. It closed on 20 March 1965 following the Beeching Axe, but West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and British Rail reopened it on 9 April 1984, at a cost of £139,000 (equivalent to £475,300 in 2021).[1][2] The current station has wooden platforms and waiting shelters (though these are stone-built rather than the metal and plexiglass designs used elsewhere). Its predecessor was of more substantial stone construction, with buildings on each platform; these were demolished in 1970, five years after the station closed.[3]
The station is on the Airedale line, between Bradford and Leeds, and Skipton. It is a busy commuter station both for passengers travelling to Leeds and Bradford and for staff in companies based in Salt's Mill, as well as serving tourists visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Saltaire.
The lower station of the Shipley Glen Tramway is about half a mile from Saltaire Station. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal, River Aire and Roberts Park, Saltaire are also close by.
Stationmasters edit
Sometime after 1927 the position of station master was merged with that of Shipley.
Facilities edit
Though unstaffed, the station has ticket machines available. There is step-free access to both platforms via ramps from the street above.[8] Train running information can be obtained via digital information screens, timetable posters and an automated public address system.
Services edit
Since the May 2023 timetable update, there is a half-hourly service to Leeds, an hourly service to Bradford Forster Square and three trains per hour to Skipton throughout the day Mondays to Saturdays.[9] The Bradford service increases to half-hourly at peak times, with some additional services also to Leeds and Skipton. One early morning train to both Carlisle and Carnforth also call here (the former on weekdays only).
On Sundays, there is an hourly service to Leeds and to Bradford Forster Square, with two trains per hour to Skipton. The first departures from Leeds to both Lancaster and Carlisle also stop.
| Preceding station |  National Rail
|
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shipley | Northern Trains Airedale Line |
Bingley | ||
| Historical railways | ||||
| Shipley | Midland Railway Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway |
Bingley | ||
-
The view from platform 2. -
Platform 2. -
Two Class 333 trains cross at the station. -
Both platforms viewed from Victoria Road. Platform 2 is on the left, and platform 1 on the right.
References edit
- ^ Whitaker, Alan (1986). Bradford Railways Remembered. Clapham: Dalesman Books. p. 12. ISBN 0852068700.
- ^ Brown, Murray (1985). Jane's railway year (4 ed.). London: Jane's Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 0-7106-0338-X.
- ^ Saltaire Railway Station Saltaire Stories; Retrieved 29 November 2016
- ^ "1859-1866". Midland Railway Miscellaneous Depts: 15. 1914. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ a b "1899-1908 Coaching; Piece 1026". Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts: 208. 1899. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "Stationmaster's Death". Shipley Times and Express. England. 10 December 1920. Retrieved 3 May 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Death of Mr. A.J. Bell". Shipley Times and Express. England. 25 March 1927. Retrieved 3 May 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Saltaire station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 29 November 2016
- ^ GB National Rail Timetable May 2023 Edition, Table 35
Bibliography edit
- Bairstow, Martin. Railways Through Airedale & Wharfedale. ISBN 1-871944-28-7.
- Chapman, Stephen. Railway Memories No. 7: Airedale & Wharfedale. Bellcode books. ISBN 1-871233-05-4.
Further reading edit
- "Saltaire's new station opens". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. June 1984. p. 22. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
External links edit
- Train times and station information for Saltaire railway station from National Rail
- Proposals to improve the station