Rail transport in Staffordshire
Rail transport in Staffordshire has a long history. Stafford itself is a major "crossroads" on the West Coast Main Line, handling passenger and freight services between London and Scotland along with traffic travelling between Manchester and Birmingham. Stoke-on-Trent was once a major railway centre, especially for traffic associated with the coal mining and pottery industries, but in recent years this traffic has almost completely disappeared.
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History
- Grand Junction Railway (1833–1846)
- London and North Western Railway (1846–1922)
- North Staffordshire Railway (1845–1922) 220.75 miles (355 km)
- Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway (narrow gauge) (1904–1922) 8.25 miles (13 km)
- London, Midland and Scottish Railway (1923–1948)
- British Rail (1947–1997)
- London Midland Region (British Railways) (1948 - ?)
- Western Region of British Railways (1948–1963)
- Regional Railways (1981–1996)
- InterCity (British Rail) (1981–1997)
- Central Trains (1997–2007)
- Northern Rail (2004 - todate)
- North Western Trains (1997–1998)
- First North Western (1998–2004)
- Virgin Cross-Country (1997–2007)
- Virgin West Coast (1997 - todate)
- London Midland (2007 - todate)
- East Midlands Trains (2007 - todate)
The decline of the railways
Staffordshire's railways were considerably reduced by the Beeching Axe in the 1960s. The famous Loop Line along with several other routes were closed, while several stations, such as Uttoxeter, only narrowly missed closure. A considerable number of coal mines retained their railway connections, but with the decline of the industry, very few survive.
Stone, Barlaston, Norton Bridge and Wedgwood last saw rail services in 2003. Etruria, no longer used by local workers, closed in 2005.
Stone station reopening
Stone railway station was reopened in 2008.
Current lines
- Cross-City Line
- West Coast Main Line
- Cross Country Route (Derby to Birmingham)
- Chase Line
- Crewe to Derby Line
Closed lines
- Cheadle Branch Line
- Potteries Loop Line
- South Staffordshire Line
- Stafford and Uttoxeter Railway
- Stoke-Market Drayton Line