Squires Gate railway station

Squires Gate railway station serves the Squires Gate area of the popular seaside resort of Blackpool, Lancashire, England, although it is located just outside the borough boundary. It lies on the Blackpool South to Preston line and is the nearest station to Blackpool Airport. Squires Gate is located about 400 metres (1,300 ft) from Starr Gate tram stop on the Blackpool Tramway.

Squires Gate
National Rail
General information
LocationSquires Gate, Fylde
England
Coordinates53.7773°N 3.0503°W / 53.7773; -3.0503
Grid referenceSD30883173
Managed byNorthern
Platforms1
Other information
Station codeSQU
ClassificationDfT category F2
Key dates
1 April 1865Stony Hill Station opened
1872Stony Hill Station closed
14 September 1931Squires Gate Station opened[1]
Passengers
2017/18Decrease 16,704
2018/19Increase 18,054
2019/20Increase 23,964
2020/21Decrease 7,988
2021/22Increase 25,082
Location
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

Between 1865 and 1872, Stony Hill railway station was located in the same area.[2] The present station opened on 14 September 1931 by the LMS. The station was host to 12 (LMS) caravans in 1937 and 1938 followed by 17 caravans in 1939. 15 camping coaches were also positioned here by the London Midland Region from 1954 to 1967, 14 in 1968 and 1969, 11 in 1970 and 12 in 1971.[3]

It was planned that Squires Gate may have been renamed Blackpool International Station at some point, along with the provision of direct and flat surface access from the station to the airport.[4]

Facilities

The station is unstaffed, but has been provided with a ticket machine, digital PIS screen and a long-line P.A system to offer train running information. CCTV, timetable posters and a pay phone are also available.[5]

Services

Squires Gate is served by an hourly service northbound to Blackpool South and southbound to Preston, operated by Northern who also manage the station.[6] Sunday services also run on an hourly frequency, running beyond Preston to Blackburn and Colne every other hour.

The majority of services on the line are operated by Class 150.

See also

References
  1. ""Blackpool History"" (PDF). (175 KiB), Blackpool Borough Council Tourism Division, accessed 17 October 2007
  2. Welch, M.S. (2004) Lancashire Steam Finale, Runpast Publishing, Cheltenham, ISBN 1-870754-61-1, p.31
  3. McRae, Andrew (1997). British Railway Camping Coach Holidays: The 1930s & British Railways (London Midland Region). Vol. Scenes from the Past: 30 (Part One). Foxline. pp. 22 & 50. ISBN 1-870119-48-7.
  4. "Blackpool Airport - Masterplan" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  5. Nations Rail Enquiries - Squires Gate NAtional Rail Enquiries
  6. GB eNRT May 2023 Edition, Table 102 (Network Rail)

Further reading
  • Bairstow, Martin (2001). Railways of Blackpool and the Fylde. Martin Bairstow Publications. ISBN 1-871944-23-6.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Squires Gate railway station.
Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Northern
  Historical railways  
South Shore   London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Blackpool and Lytham Railway		   St Annes-
-on-the-Sea


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