Place South Shore Station code BPS DfT category F1 Number of platforms 1 Interchange 1 | Grid reference SD310340 Managed by Northern 2011/12 0.144 million | |
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Address Blackpool FY4 2AD, United Kingdom Similar Blackpool North railway st, Ansdell and Fairhave, Blackpool Pleasure Beach rai, Squires Gate railway st, Moss Side railway station | ||
Blackpool South railway station serves the suburban south of the popular seaside resort of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It is the terminus of the South Fylde Line 12 1⁄4 miles (19.7 km) west of Kirkham and Wesham by rail, though most services run through from Colne. It lies only a short walk from Blackpool Football Club's stadium at Bloomfield Road. The station is managed by Northern, who operate all trains serving it.
Contents
History
The station was originally called Waterloo Road when it opened in 1903, at the junction with a newly built express Marton Line direct from Kirkham. It had four platforms (two for each line at the junction) and soon became a busy station. Until November 1964, the line extended north from here to Blackpool Central. There were extensive sidings to accommodate the many excursion trains which came to Blackpool.
The Marton Line closed to regular traffic in 1965; its track bed is now the road called Yeadon Way and the M55 motorway.
The station continued to handle through trains from Manchester, Liverpool and London until 1970, when these were all diverted to Blackpool North at the other end of town. It was then reduced to local status only, although it kept its signal box, two working platform faces and double track until 1982. The box was notable in that it was located on the opposite side of Waterloo Road bridge from the station and so could not see the tracks & platforms it controlled, instead being surrounded by the disused railway land once occupied by the main line & aforementioned sidings. After the line was singled west of St Annes and the box was abolished, all trains used the former northbound platform and continue to do so to the present day. The substantial main buildings (booking office and waiting rooms) that formerly existed at street level were demolished in 1985.
For much of the 1970s and early 1980s nearly all services terminated at Kirkham, where passengers were forced to change if wanting to travel further east but since 1988 they have been integrated with those on the East Lancashire Line, a timetable pattern that remains in place as of 2016.
Facilities
The station is unstaffed and only has basic amenities, namely a waiting shelter, bench seating and timetable poster boards on the platform and a payphone at the street-level station entrance. Train running information is provided via a digital CIS display and automated announcements. Step-free access is available via ramps from Waterloo Road and the car park.
Services
Blackpool South currently has an hourly service to Colne via Lytham, Preston, Blackburn and Burnley on weekdays & Saturdays. Sunday services run on a similar frequency, but only from March until early November.
Services are normally formed of Class 142 Pacer units or Class 150 Sprinter units operated by Northern.
Blackpool North lies at the other end of the town, and is unconnected to Blackpool South. More frequent and express services depart from North Station.