The Pontefract line is one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service is operated by Northern, and links Wakefield and Leeds with Goole via Pontefract. The Metro timetable for the line also includes services operated as the Dearne Valley line between York and Sheffield via Pontefract.

Pontefract line
A Northern Trains Class 158 no.158815 at Pontefract Monkhill station in August 2021
Overview
OwnerNetwork Rail
LocaleYorkshire and the Humber
Termini
Stations16
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map

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Pontefract Line
Leeds
Leeds New Approach
Leeds Hunslet Lane
Hunslet
Woodlesford
Methley North
Methley Junction
Methley South
Altofts and Whitwood
Castleford Cutsyke
Castleford
Glasshoughton
Wakefield Westgate
Wakefield Kirkgate
Crofton
Sharlston
Streethouse
Featherstone
Pontefract Tanshelf
Pontefract Monkhill
Knottingley
Whitley Bridge
Hensall
Snaith
Rawcliffe
Goole (L&Y)
Goole

The line, which passes through the former mining areas to the east of Wakefield and Castleford, has the greatest number of stations opened by the West Yorkshire Metro. MetroCards are available on the route as far as Knottingley: a limited service of trains continues to Goole by this route.

The route

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History

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Railways in the area opened as follows:

Before the 1923 Grouping the lines over which the service operates were owned by:

  • Leeds – Methley: Midland Railway (MR)
  • Methley – Pontefract (Monkhill) – Goole: L&YR
  • Wakefield Westgate station: joint GNR/L&YR
  • Wakefield – Pontefract (Monkhill): L&YR

Description of route

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Leeds–Goole

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Trains using the Pontefract line from Leeds use the same route as the Hallam line to Methley Junction:

Wakefield–Pontefract

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The Wakefield service joins the Leeds service at Pontefract; the station served for this section are:

Both services now run hourly to Leeds from Knottingley to provide a combined half-hourly service between Knottingley, Pontefract Monkhill and Leeds

 
The Pontefract line centres on the town of Pontefract

References

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