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Ravenglass railway station

Coordinates: 54°21′20″N 3°24′32″W / 54.3556605°N 3.4088794°W / 54.3556605; -3.4088794
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Ravenglass

Ravenglass for Eskdale
National Rail
General information
LocationRavenglass, Copeland
England
Coordinates54°21′20″N 3°24′32″W / 54.3556605°N 3.4088794°W / 54.3556605; -3.4088794
Grid referenceSD085964
Owned byNetwork Rail
Managed byNorthern Trains
Platforms2
Tracks2
ConnectionsRavenglass (R&ER) Heritage railway
Other information
Station codeRAV
ClassificationDfT category F2
History
Original companyWhitehaven and Furness Junction Railway
Pre-groupingFurness Railway
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
British Rail (London Midland Region)
Key dates
19 July 1849Opened
Passengers
2018/19Increase 33,456
2019/20Increase 42,802
2020/21Decrease 9,102
2021/22Increase 29,470
2022/23Increase 33,704
Location
Ravenglass is located in the former Borough of Copeland
Ravenglass
Ravenglass
Location in Copeland, Cumbria
Ravenglass is located in Cumbria
Ravenglass
Ravenglass
Location in Cumbria, England
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Ravenglass (also known as Ravenglass for Eskdale) is a railway station on the Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. The station, situated 29+14 miles (47 km) north-west of Barrow-in-Furness, serves the village of Ravenglass in Cumbria. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.

The two parts of the station are separated by the station's car park. The station is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains, who provide all passenger train services, whilst the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway run its own platforms and services.

The National Rail station was originally known as Ravenglass before being lengthened to Ravenglass for Eskdale. It was then renamed to Ravenglass on 6 May 1974.[1] When First North Western operated the station during the early part of the 21st century, it reverted to its name of Ravenglass for Eskdale, until Northern Rail rebranded the station signage in 2007, losing the suffix once more. Since 2018 the station has been called "Ravenglass for Eskdale" on all timetables and ticketing, but the station signage remains as "Ravenglass" without the suffix (as at 21 June 2021).


Overview

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This station has two platforms, one serving trains travelling towards Barrow-in-Furness and one for trains travelling towards Carlisle. All former station buildings on the National Rail site, which is now unstaffed, are currently owned by the Eskdale Railway company - the main building being a pub, The Ratty Arms,[2] the old southbound shelter a museum (leaving only small shelters for mainline travellers) and the goods shed an engineering workshop. The old Furness Railway main line signal box south of the station also survives - though out of railway use since 1965, it has been restored by the R&ER as a working museum exhibit and is open to the public.[3]

Step-free access to both (staggered) platforms is available, with the northbound one via ramps from the Village Car Park and from the Ratty Arms, and to the southbound platform from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway car park. There is also a footbridge link to the R&ER station at the south end of the northbound platform. To cross between the platforms either use the road bridge (north of the station) or the footbridge at the South End of the station, to the R and E R car park. [4] Train running information can be obtained from timetable posters, information screens and by telephone. A ticket machine is also now in service, to allow intending travellers to buy their tickets prior to boarding.

Services

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Northern Trains
Route 6
Cumbrian Coast, Furness
& Windermere lines
Carlisle
Dalston
Wigton
Aspatria
Maryport
Flimby
Workington
Harrington
Parton
Whitehaven
Corkickle
St Bees
Nethertown
Braystones
Sellafield
Seascale
Drigg
Ravenglass
Heritage railway
Bootle
Silecroft
Millom
Green Road
Foxfield
Kirkby-in-Furness
Askam
Barrow-in-Furness
Roose
Dalton
Ulverston
Cark & Cartmel
Kents Bank
Grange-over-Sands
Arnside
Silverdale
Carnforth
Windermere
Staveley
Burneside
Kendal
Oxenholme Lake District
Lancaster
Preston
Chorley
Bolton
Deansgate
Manchester Metrolink
Manchester Oxford Road
Manchester Piccadilly
Manchester Metrolink
Manchester Airport
Manchester Metrolink Airport interchange
Braystones & Nethertown
are request stops.

A basic hourly service operates in each direction, although one northbound train terminates at Sellafield rather than running through to Carlisle.[5] Through tickets from trains on the Cumbria Coast Line are available to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Additional evening trains and the first Sunday service for more than 40 years were introduced at the May 2018 timetable change. This runs broadly hourly each way from mid-morning until 19:00.

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

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The platforms at the adjacent Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway station.

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, also known as La'al Ratty from Cumbrian dialect, is a heritage railway, providing journeys on a narrow-gauge railway up the scenic Eskdale valley. The Ravenglass station owned by the line is the other side of the car park and is the line's primary station and base of operations, with fully equipped workshops, motive power depot, carriage shed, paint shop and signal box. For passengers, there is a museum, café, gift shop and ticket office. The station has a turntable and three platforms, however only platforms 1 and 3 see regular use.

The station opened in 1875 and has closed and reopened to passengers as the companies have. It has had many changes in layout and design, and is currently at its largest size that it has ever been.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Slater, J.N., ed. (July 1974). "Notes and News: Stations renamed by LMR". Railway Magazine. 120 (879). London: IPC Transport Press Ltd: 363. ISSN 0033-8923.
  2. ^ Ravenglass Station Old Cumbria Gazetteer; Retrieved 2 December 2016
  3. ^ "Ravenglass Signal Box" The Signal Box website; Retrieved 14 November 2016
  4. ^ Ravenglass station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 2 December 2016
  5. ^ GB eNRT December 2019 Edition, Table 100 (Network Rail)
[edit]
Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Drigg   Northern Trains
Cumbrian Coast line
  Bootle
  Historical railways  
Drigg   Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway   Eskmeals
Heritage Railways  Heritage railways
Change for Ravenglass on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway