Hexham railway station

History

The Newcastle and Carlisle Railway was formed in 1829, and was opened in stages. The first section of that line to open for passenger trains was between Blaydon and Hexham, which was formally opened on 3 March 1835, with normal services beginning either the next day, or on 9 March 1835. The line was extended from Hexham to Haydon Bridge on 28 June 1836. After the N&CR had been absorbed by the North Eastern Railway, Hexham became a junction station with the opening of the first section of the Border Counties Railway, between Hexham and Chollerford on 5 April 1858. The first section of a second branch, the Hexham and Allendale Railway (H&AR) was opened (for goods) in August 1867 - the H&AR, initially promoted to serve lead mines, opened for passengers on 1 March 1869.

On the main line, the next station to the west of Hexham was Fourstones, which closed in 1967.

The station has two waiting rooms. Platform two's waiting room has a fireplace made of black marble, which includes many fossilised orthoceras cephalopods, dated to approximately 400 million years old.

The floral displays have won several awards from the Britain in Bloom scheme.

Dating from around 1835, Hexham station is one of the oldest purpose-built railway stations in the world.

The station has diminished in size and importance since the closure of the Allendale branch (to passengers on 22 September 1930, completely in 1950) and the Border Counties Railway (to passengers October 1956, all traffic 1958), both of which met the Tyne Valley line west of Hexham station. The bay platform used by both branch lines was located on the southern side and faced west - it was taken out of use in the early 1970s and the track lifted (the land now forms part of the station car park). The track layout has also been rationalised, with just a running loop and three sidings retained at the east end of the station along with the distinctive elevated signal box. This was built in 1896, is grade-II listed and one of only two such structures left on the line (the other being at Wylam).

In 2013 a major Network Rail managed redevelopment scheme commenced. The goods yard on the south east side is becoming a retail park. The Victorian railway stables are being relocated to Beamish Museum. Both of the Victorian good shed buildings are to be re-used. On the north side a new supplementary entrance and car park will be created affording disabled access to that platform.

Facilities

The station is staffed on a part-time basis, with the ticket office on platform 2 open on weekdays between 07:15 - 17:30 and 08:15 - 14:15 on Saturdays (closed evenings and Sundays). A self-service ticket machine is available for use outside these times and for collecting pre-paid tickets. There are waiting rooms provided on both platforms along with toilets, vending machines, a retail outlet, taxi office and refreshment facilities (a fast food restaurant) on platform 2. Step-free access is available to both platforms.

Services

The station has an hourly Northern service on weekdays westwards to Carlisle - one afternoon train continues through to Whitehaven (though there is no corresponding service in the opposite direction). There are two trains per hour to Newcastle - one of which runs through from Carlisle and serves only Prudhoe and the MetroCentre, whilst the other starts at Hexham and calls at most intermediate stations. Many of the latter continue on via the Durham Coast Line to Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

On Sundays an hourly service operates between Carlisle and Newcastle only.

Abellio ScotRail provide a limited service of three trains each way to both Newcastle and to Glasgow Central via the Glasgow South Western Line (except Sundays).

A landslip between Corbridge & Riding Mill (caused by persistent heavy rain and a broken drainage pipe) in early January 2016 led to the temporary suspension of services from here towards Newcastle whilst repairs to the track & adjacent cutting walls were carried out. Trains to/from Carlisle terminated & started back here, whilst a replacement bus service ran as far as Prudhoe until the work was completed. The line reopened to traffic on 8 February 2016, following the removal of over 35,000 tones of earth from the site.