Place Great Ayton Station code GTA DfT category F2 Number of platforms 1 Original company North Eastern Railway | Grid reference NZ574108 Managed by Northern 2011/12 6,902 | |
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Address Middlesbrough TS9 6HQ, United Kingdom Similar Kildale railway station, Commondale railway station, Battersby railway station, Danby railway station, Gypsy Lane railway st | ||
Great Ayton railway station serves the village of Great Ayton in the county of North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Esk Valley Line and is operated by Northern who provide all of the station's passenger services.
Contents
History
The North Eastern Railway built a short line to link Battersby (on their route between Picton and Grosmont) with Nunthorpe on the Middlesbrough and Guisborough Railway (a subsidiary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway). This link line opened on 1 June 1864 but was used at first only for mineral trains. Passenger trains along the route began four years later, and a station at Great Ayton was opened on 1 April 1868.
Description
The station is on the single track rail line between Nunthorpe and Battersby and there are only a few trains per day. Until the mid-1980s the station had a goods shunting yard etc. which later served as the village coal merchants. Trains until the 1950s used to run from the station to Stokesley, Whitby Town and Middlesbrough but only the latter two destinations are now served. Next to Great Ayton station is the village garage and towing service. The station had, until 1934, a full station building complete with booking office and waiting room, this however was demolished to save costs. From the start of the May 2010 timetable Northern will be operating a service to and from Newcastle on a Sunday morning (and return in the evening) for holiday makers going to and from Whitby. The station has only one platform which is usually served by Northern stopping services - these are usually composed of Class 156 Diesel Multiple Units (although Class 142 "Pacers" can also appear on occasions). Four services each way are scheduled to call on weekdays & Saturdays and also on Sundays from late March until early November.
The Esk Valley line is the only rail connection to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and occasionally one can view locomotives going to and from the railway, information about moves can be obtained from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The best place to view trains at Great Ayton station is on the road bridge which overlooks the station. Further information about station facilities can be obtained from Northern.