Wikipedia

Stamford railway station

This article is about the British railway station. For other stations with similar names, see Stamford station (disambiguation).

Stamford railway station serves the town of Stamford in Lincolnshire, England, and is located in St Martin's. The station is 12.5 miles (20 km) west of Peterborough. It was opened by the Syston and Peterborough Railway, part of the present day Birmingham to Peterborough Line. CrossCountry operate the majority of services as part of their Birmingham to Stansted Airport route. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway

Stamford
National Rail
General information
LocationStamford, South Kesteven
England
Coordinates52°38′53″N 0°28′47″W / 52.6480°N 0.4798°W / 52.6480; -0.4798
Grid referenceTF029066
Managed byEast Midlands Railway
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeSMD
ClassificationDfT category E
History
Original companyMidland Railway
Pre-groupingMidland Railway
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
1 May 1848 (1848-05-01)Opened as Stamford
29 September 1950Renamed Stamford Town
18 April 1966Renamed Stamford
Passengers
2018/19Increase 0.385 million
2019/20Decrease 0.367 million
2020/21Decrease 49,894
2021/22Increase 0.227 million
2022/23Increase 0.248 million
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

The station was formerly known as Stamford Town to distinguish it from the now closed Stamford East station in Water Street. It is often printed on timetables and train tickets as Stamford (Lincs) to distinguish it from either Stamford Hill station in London or Stanford-le-Hope station in Essex.

The station building is a fine stone structure in Mock Tudor style, influenced by the nearby Burghley House, and designed by Sancton Wood.[1] It was upgraded to Grade II* listed building status in March 2020.[2]

History

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Openings

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Sancton Wood's station building

Opened by the Midland Railway on its Syston and Peterborough Railway, train services began on 2 October 1846 on the Peterborough to Stamford section, using a temporary station in Water Street, as the tunnel was not complete. The contract for the erection of the permanent station was obtained by Groocock and Yates of Leicester in 1847.[3] The permanent station opened along with through services to Leicester on 20 March 1848.

The London and North Western Railway opened their single track branch line from Rugby via Market Harborough on 2 June 1851. This actually joined the Midland line at Luffenham, but trains generally worked through to Stamford and terminated in the LNWR bay, platform 3, the far side of the current Leicester platform, which is now disused and filled in.

In 1863, the weekday train service comprised 5 each way per day on the Peterborough - Stamford - Leicester route, 3 each way per day on the Stamford - Market Harborough - Rugby route, and 1 each way per day on the Stamford - Market Harborough - Northampton route, including through coaches to London Euston, then known as Euston Square.[4]

The LNWR Rugby line was double tracked in 1878, but in 1879 the LNWR built a new line from Seaton to Wansford on their existing Peterborough to Northampton Nene valley line, and from this time, Rugby to Peterborough was operated as the main line and the Stamford to Seaton section became a branch line, and was singled again in 1907.[5]

Closures

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When Stamford East station closed in 1957, the Stamford to Essendine services were diverted to Town station, but these services ceased in 1959. Some minor stations on the Midland line closed in the 1950s and 1960s and the remaining village stations such as Helpston and Ketton & Collyweston closed in 1966, along with the Seaton branch line from Luffenham.

1970s

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With the end of steam traction, the service in the 1970s and early 1980s generally comprised a stopping service formed of 2-car DMUs running between Peterborough and Leicester every two hours, supplemented by a two or three times a day Peterborough to Stamford shuttle service. There was also a four or five times daily through Birmingham to Norwich service usually formed by a Class 31 with four or five Mark 1 coaches, these services generally ran non-stop between Peterborough and Leicester.

1980s

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General goods services in Stamford finished in the late 1960s but the coal yard remained in use until 16 May 1983.

When the coal yard closed, the opportunity was also taken to close the signal box. All pointwork was removed and mechanical signals were replaced by colour lights controlled by Ketton signal box. Ketton signal box was retained due to the need to monitor the level crossing. With no crossover, the Peterborough to Stamford shuttles were for a time reversed at Ketton, before being withdrawn altogether.

With the line to the bay platform lifted, the bay was filled in to form a flowerbed.

1990s

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In the late 1990s, the toilets were closed, having been the subject of vandalism and variously available since the 1960s. The ticket office is only open in the mornings. The small bicycle rack outside the station was removed.

2000s

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Central Trains undertook internal modifications and refurbishment to the ticket office and booking hall towards the end of their franchise. Network Rail also invested £500,000 on refurbishment of the station building, modern lighting, overbridge and foot crossing to further update the station in late 2007.[6]

In late July 2008, Network Rail was granted listed building consent to make alterations to the then Grade II listed station building to enable larger freight trains of W10 loading gauge to travel on the Peterborough to Nuneaton route. This will involve changes to the platform alignment and the platform canopy and a temporary platform will be provided during the works.[7]

It was planned that both platforms would be extended by up to five metres by no later than 2012.[8]

Historical services

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Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Ketton & Collyweston   Midland Railway
Leicester to Peterborough 		  Uffington & Barnack
Ketton & Collyweston   London and North Western Railway
Seaton branch 		  Terminus
Timetable for February 1863

The table below shows the train departures from Stamford Town on weekdays in February 1863.[9]

Departure Going to Calling at Arrival Operator
06.45 London Euston Square Luffenham, Seaton, Rockingham, Medbourne Bridge, Market Harborough, Kelmarsh, Lamport, Brixworth, Brampton, Northampton Castle. Through coaches to Blisworth, Wolverton, Camden, London Euston Square 10.30 LNWR
07.10 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Whisendine, Saxby, Melton, Asfordby, Frisby, Brooksby, Rearsby, Syston, Leicester 09.10 MR
07.30 Rugby Luffenham, Seaton, Rockingham, Medbourne Bridge, Market Harborough, Thedingworth, Welford & Kilworth, Stanford Hall, Lilbourne, Rugby 09.15 LNWR
09.03 Peterborough Great Eastern Uffington & Barnack, Helpstone, Walton, Peterborough Crescent, Peterborough Great Eastern 09.40 MR
10.00 Rugby Luffenham, Seaton, Rockingham, Medbourne Bridge, Market Harborough, Thedingworth, Welford & Kilworth, Stanford Hall, Lilbourne, Rugby 11.45 LNWR
10.47 Peterborough Great Eastern Helpstone, Peterborough Crescent, Peterborough Great Eastern 11.20 MR
10.52 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Saxby, Melton, Syston, Leicester 12.20 MR
13.10 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Melton, Brooksby, Syston, Leicester 14.40 MR
14.11 Peterborough Great Eastern Helpstone, Peterborough Crescent, Peterborough Great Eastern 14.40 MR
16.23 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Whisendine, Saxby, Melton, Asfordby, Frisby, Brooksby, Rearsby, Syston, Leicester 18.15 MR
16.45 Rugby Luffenham, Seaton, Rockingham, Medbourne Bridge, Market Harborough, Thedingworth, Welford & Kilworth, Stanford Hall, Lilbourne, Rugby 18.35 LNWR
16.47 Peterborough Great Eastern Uffington & Barnack, Helpstone, Walton, Peterborough Crescent, Peterborough Great Eastern 17.25 MR
20.44 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Saxby, Melton, Brooksby, Syston, Leicester 22.25 MR
21.52 Peterborough Great Eastern Helpstone, Peterborough Crescent, Peterborough Great Eastern 22.20 MR
Timetable for July 1922

The table below shows the train departures from Stamford Town on weekdays in July 1922.[10]

Departure Going to Calling at Arrival Operator
07.35 Seaton Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton 08.03 LNWR
08.20 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Whissendine, Saxby, Melton Mowbray, Asfordby, Frisby, Brooksby, Rearsby, Syston, Leicester 10.03 MR
08.53 Peterborough East Uffington & Barnack, Helpston, Walton, Peterborough North, Peterborough East 09.33 MR
09.08 Seaton Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton 09.33 LNWR
09.39 Oakham Ketton, Luffenham, Oakham 10.08 MR
10.41 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Melton Mowbray, Leicester 11.56 MR
10.43 Peterborough East Uffington & Barnack, Helpston, Peterborough North, Peterborough East 11.20 MR
11.35 Seaton Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton 12.01 LNWR
11.46 Peterborough East Peterborough North, Peterborough East 12.13 MR
12.33 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Whissendine, Saxby, Melton Mowbray, Leicester 14.00 MR
13.55 Seaton Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton 14.20 LNWR
14.30 Peterborough East Uffington & Barnack, Helpston, Walton, Peterborough North, Peterborough East 15.08 MR
16.02 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Whissendine, Saxby, Melton Mowbray, Syston, Leicester 17.32 MR
16.15 Seaton Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton 16.40 LNWR
17.01 Peterborough East Uffington & Barnack, Helpston, Walton, Peterborough North, Peterborough East 17.37 MR
17.38 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Saxby, Melton Mowbray, Asfordby, Frisby, Brooksby, Rearsby, Syston, Leicester 19.13 MR
17.48 Seaton Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton 18.11 LNWR
18.31 Peterborough East Helpston, Peterborough North, Peterborough East 19.02 MR
19.43 Peterborough East Helpston, Peterborough North, Peterborough East 20.20 MR
19.55 Seaton Ketton, Luffenham, Morcott, Seaton 20.20 LNWR
20.45 Leicester Ketton, Luffenham, Manton, Oakham, Ashwell, Melton Mowbray, Syston, Leicester 22.08 MR
22.40 Peterborough East Peterborough North, Peterborough East 20.20 MR

Stationmasters

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In 1853, the station master Thomas Liddell had travelled to Barrowden, intending to return by train but on arriving at Luffenham, he discovered it was too late for the train home. When he got to Ketton, he persuaded a porter to get out a truck, which he proposed to ride home in, thinking that the line from Ketton to Stamford was on a descent, he would be able to travel the 3 miles without propulsion. After initial success, the truck stopped at the bridge approaching Easton-wood and he could not get it moving again on his own. After assistance from the gatekeeper, he managed to reach Stamford. The incident reached the directors of the Midland Railway and an officer arrived and took him into custody.[11]

Midland Railway

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  • Mr. North ca. 1846
  • Francis Toplis ca. 1848 ca. 1851
  • Thomas Liddell until 1853 (dismissed)
  • Edward Darke ca. 1854
  • Thomas Hirst ca. 1856 - 1860[12] (discharged)
  • William Ward 1861[12] - 1882[13] (formerly station master at Manton)
  • Thomas Alexander Watford 1882[14] - 1890 (formerly station master at Rugby, afterwards station master at Tamworth)
  • Thomas Walker ca. 1892 - 1894[15] (afterwards station master at Tamworth)
  • William Grant 1895 - ca. 1901
  • John Francis Westcott 1903[16] - 1921 (formerly station master at Elstree)
  • Arthur Jackson 1921 - 1930[17] (formerly station master at Elmton and Creswell, afterwards station master at Berkhamstead)
  • William Thomas Dickens 1930 - 1940 (from 1936 also station master at Stamford East)[18]
  • Joseph Henry Marshall until 1946
  • John E. Pridmore 1946 - 1959[19]
  • A. Rolling from 1960 (formerly station master at South Lynn)

London and North Western Railway

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From 1908, it was agreed that the station be run as a joint station with the Midland Railway, with only one stationmaster.[20]

  • Jas. McColm 1862 - 1863 (dismissed)
  • John Maw 1863 - ca. 1871
  • Samuel Willett ca. 1872 - 1877
  • George Wallis 1877 - 1897
  • John Brassington 1897 - 1908

Services

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From Stamford, CrossCountry operates a generally hourly service in each direction:[21]

Despite managing the station, East Midlands Railway only operates three daily services to the station, mainly for train crew route knowledge purposes; there are two early morning services to Norwich and a late night service to Nottingham.[22]

Preceding station     National Rail   Following station
CrossCountry
Limited Service
East Midlands Railway
Nottingham-Norwich (via Loughborough)
Limited Service

References

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  1. ^ Historic England. "Stamford Station (499042)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  2. ^ Historic England. "Stamford Town Railway Station Including Waiting Shelter, Footbridge And Two Stone Piers (Grade II*) (1366147)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  3. ^ "The contract for the erection of the Stamford, Ketton and Luffenham stations". Lincolnshire Chronicle. England. 23 July 1847. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ Bradshaws General Railway and Steam Navigation Guide, February 1863.
  5. ^ Butler, P., (2007) A History of the Railways of Northamptonshire, Great Addington: Silver Link Publishing
  6. ^ "£500,000 INVESTMENT FOR STAMFORD STATION". Network Rail. 21 September 2007.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Planning Application S08/LB/7000". South Kesteven District Council. Retrieved 1 August 2008. [dead link]
  8. ^ "Network Rail CP4 Delivery Plan 2009 Enhancements programme: statement of scope, outputs and milestones" (PDF). Network Rail. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  9. ^ Bradshaw's General Railway and Steam Navigation Guide, February 1863
  10. ^ Bradshaw's General Railway and Steam Navigation Guide, July 1922
  11. ^ "A Station-Master Fined and Dismissed". The Globe. England. 17 October 1853. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ a b "1859-1866". Midland Railway Miscellaneous Depts: 170. 1914. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Deaths". Lincolnshire Chronicle. England. 13 January 1882. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ "Promotion". Nuneaton Advertiser. England. 4 February 1882. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "Mr. T. Walker". Stamford Mercury. England. 21 December 1894. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ "Mr. J. Westcott". Bedfordshire Mercury. England. 29 May 1903. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ "Rail Appointment". Leicester Evening Mail. England. 2 August 1930. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ^ "Northern Items". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. England. 3 July 1936. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ^ "Station-master retires - to work at the station!". Stamford Mercury. England. 21 August 1959. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ^ "The Midland and North Western Agreement". Derby Daily Telegraph. England. 16 October 1908. Retrieved 22 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ^ "Trains Timetables". CrossCountry. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Timetables". East Midlands Railway. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stamford railway station.
  1. ^ https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/media/3150/download?inline
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