Place Birkdale Station code HIL DfT category E Number of platforms 2 | Grid reference SD323144 Managed by Merseyrail 2011/12 0.579 million Pte Merseytravel | |
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Address Southport PR8 4TH, United Kingdom Similar Birkdale railway station, Meols Cop railway station, Formby railway station, Ainsdale railway station, Southport railway station | ||
Hillside railway station serves the southern half of the Birkdale area of Southport, England. It is located on the Southport branch of the Merseyrail network's Northern Line.
Contents
It is the closest station to the Royal Birkdale golf course, and is extremely busy when major events (such as the Open Championship) are held there.
History
Hillside opened in May 1926 as an intermediate station on the ex-Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (LYR) after the 1923 grouping into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, and long after the railway had originally opened in 1848. By this time, the area had developed into a sizable residential suburb of Southport.
Nationalisation followed in 1948 and in 1978 the station became part of the Merseyrail network's Northern Line (operated by British Rail until privatised in 1995).
Facilities
Safety and security features at this station include CCTV, an induction loop is installed, shelters and seats and a public telephone. There is no wheelchair access at this station, as the only access to the platforms is by stairs; the nearest station with disabled access is Ainsdale. The ticket office is always staffed by at least one member of staff from before the start of train services until 00:30 each evening. There is cycle storage for 6 cycles and secure storage for 40 cycles.
Services
Trains operate every 15 minutes throughout the day from Monday to Saturday and on summer Sundays to Southport to the north, and to Hunts Cross via Liverpool Central to the south. Winter Sunday services are every 30 minutes in each direction.