Layton railway station (England)

Layton railway station (formerly Bispham railway station [3] ) is on the Blackpool North to Preston railway line, in Lancashire, England, serving the Blackpool suburbs of Layton and Bispham. It is managed by Northern and is unstaffed.

Layton
Location	Layton, Blackpool England
Coordinates	53.8350°N 3.0306°W
Grid reference	SD322381
Managed by	Northern
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	LAY
Classification	DfT category F2
History
Original company	Preston and Wyre Joint Railway
Pre-grouping	Preston and Wyre Joint Railway
Post-grouping	London Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
May 1867	Opened as Bispham[1]
4 July 1938	Renamed Layton (Lancs)[2]
Passengers
2015/16	72,370
2016/17	85,324
2017/18	62,372
2018/19	45,414
2019/20	65,388
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

The railway line to Blackpool North, which was originally a branch off the line between Preston and Fleetwood, was opened by the Preston and Wyre Railway (PWR) on 29 April 1846.[4] The PWR was taken over jointly by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (LYR) and the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) in 1849, its title being amended to Preston and Wyre Joint Railway (PWJR).[5] When the station at Layton was opened by the PWJR in May 1867 it was named Bispham, being renamed Layton (Lancs) on 4 July 1938.[2]

It is one of two railway stations in the north of Blackpool. Layton still has the air of an old-fashioned commuter station although these days most workers go from here to Blackpool or Preston. There are two platforms and regular services to and from Blackpool.

The station used to have its own ticket office which closed in May 1994. Also prior to and during World War II the station had extensive sidings for goods wagons and works. Some served the Crossley Bros sawmill which occupied the site of today's B&Q and former Comet stores.[6] And others served the Borough council's transport depot located on Depot Road

A new overbridge has recently been constructed[7] and was opened to the public on 15 July 2011. The old one has been removed.

Services

There is a basic hourly service in each direction throughout the week (including Sundays for the first time in several years). Westbound trains originate at Manchester Airport, whilst services towards Manchester continue to Hazel Grove, though some Airport-bound trains also stop here during the weekday peaks. On Sundays, the service operates to and from Manchester Victoria.[8]

References

1. Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199.
2. Butt 1995, pp. 35,139
3. http://www.time-capsules.co.uk/picture/number975.asp
4. Marshall, John (1969). The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, volume 1. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. p. 84. ISBN 0-7153-4352-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
5. Marshall 1969, pp. 85–86
6. http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Crossley_Brothers_%28Blackpool%29
7. Dixon, Chris (17 May 2011). "A bridge too far for flats owners". Blackpool Gazette.
8. Table 97 National Rail timetable, May 2019

External links

• Train times and station information for Layton railway station (England) from National Rail
• Blackpool & Fylde Rail Users’ Association—Layton, accessed 17 October 2007