Nethertown railway station

Nethertown National Rail
Location
Place Nethertown
Local authority Copeland
Grid reference NX985079
Operations
Station code NRT
Managed by Northern
Number of platforms 1
DfT category F2
Live arrivals/departures, station information and onward connections
from National Rail Enquiries
Annual rail passenger usage*
2012/13 Increase 1,028
2013/14 Increase 1,160
2014/15 Decrease 600
2015/16 Decrease 560
2016/17 Decrease 412
National Rail – UK railway stations
* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Nethertown from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year.
UK Railways portal
The Cumbria coast line just north of Nethertown station, which is just to left of the house

Nethertown Railway Station is spectacularly-located on the coast, and serves the nearby village of Nethertown in Cumbria, England. Nethertown railway station is a request stop on the Cumbrian Coast Line 39 miles (63 km) north west of Barrow-in-Furness.

It is operated by Northern who provide all passenger train services.

History

In 1914 at the start of WW1 the passing loop was expanded to cater for the increased length of trains and to help with the extended length of trains brought about by WW1. In May 1916 the shunting neck was extended and an additional 90 yards of sidings were provided.

The station was a passing loop until the 1970s when it was singled due to fall-off in traffic and train frequency. It was particularly busy with passenger traffic in the 1940-50s when it served the Nethertown military camp for training anti-aircraft gunners, which was taken over after the war for the construction workers building the Sellafield Nuclear plant.

There was a waiting room, signal box and ticket office and two platforms. The only facility now is a passenger shelter on the single platform.

Location

The station is directly on the coast in a spectacular and remote position overlooking the Irish sea from a small cliff. Pearson's 1992 railway guide is moved to comment, "The tiny halts at Braystones and Nethertown are as remote as anything British Rail has to offer....Nethertown station seems suspended between the cliff face and the sands".[1] There is a vehicle track from the public highway and a footpath shortcut to the village.

On the seward side can be seen the remains of the sea-filled swimming pool built by the contractors from the camp. A foot level crossing connects the platform to the station approach track, and though this offers step-free access, the platform is low. A ramp has been installed to allow easier access on and off the train and the steps which were previously mounted on the platform have been removed.[2] Timetable posters are available to offer train running information and there are electric lights during operating hours.

Services

Five trains call in each direction (on request) from Monday to Friday, with one northbound and two southbound extra calls on Saturdays. There is no late evening service, but a limited Sunday service was introduced at the May 2018 timetable change;[3] the first to run over this section since 1976.

References

  1. ↑ Pearson's Railway Rides, The Cumbrian Coast. J M Pearson & Son, Staffs, 1992.
  2. ↑ Nethertown station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 2 December 2016
  3. ↑ Table 100 National Rail timetable, May 2018
  • 100 Years of St Bees, Douglas Sim, 1995. ISBN 0-9526990-0-1
Preceding station   National Rail   Following station
Northern
Cumbrian Coast Line
Mondays-Saturdays only

Coordinates: 54°27′25″N 3°33′58″W / 54.457°N 3.566°W / 54.457; -3.566

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