Place Leek, Staffordshire 13 July 1849 Opened | Grid reference SJ978559 | |
Area Staffordshire Moorlands Pre-grouping North Staffordshire Railway Post-grouping London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London Midland Region of British Railways Similar Rushton railway station, Cheddleton railway station, Kingsley and Froghall r, Churnet Valley Railway, Rudyard Lake | ||
Leek railway station was a railway station that served the town of Leek, Staffordshire. It was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway in 1849. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1965 with complete closure following in 1970.
Contents
History
Leek had a substantial station and goods yard, but competition from road transport led to the withdrawal of services to Stoke-on-Trent in 1956 and the remaining passenger services to Uttoxeter in 1965. Freight workings continued until 1970.
The site of the station is now occupied by a Morrisons supermarket, although the road bridge is still in situ between the latter's car park and petrol station.
Future
In 2009, Moorlands and City Railways Ltd (MCR) bought the 20 miles of railway line from Stoke in the west-direction of Leek, with a view to reconnect Leek with the national network.
A new station could be constructed in Leek, possibly on the Cornhill development on the outskirts of the town, although MCR would prefer it to be closer to the town centre, of course. Following its initial refusal of planning permission in September 2014, Moorlands District Council accepted a second proposal which would see a station provided next to the 17-acre Barnfield Industrial Estate in Cornhill, on a site previously occupied by Hughes Concrete Products. The new station would become the Churnet Valley Railway's northern terminus and the headquarters of the MCR. The ¾-mile extension from Leek Brook would be funded by the sale of land within a triangle at Leekbrook for housing.
Once a station is established, a regular service on the Leek to Stoke line could be provided.