Place Seaham Station code SEA DfT category F1 Number of platforms 2 Original company Seaham | Grid reference NZ420495 Managed by Northern 2011/12 121,844 | |
 | ||
Address Seaham SR7 7DU, United Kingdom Similar Chester‑le‑Street railway station, Bishop Auckland railway st, Sunderland station, Durham railway station, Adventure Valley | ||
Seaham railway station top 8 facts
Seaham railway station serves the town of Seaham in County Durham, England. The station is located on the Durham Coast Line and is operated by Northern, which provides all of its passenger services.
Contents
The station facilities have recently been improved and include new fully lit waiting shelters and CCTV. The long-line Public Address system (PA) was renewed and upgraded with pre-recorded announcements.
The first rail route into the town (the Seaham & Sunderland Railway) was built as a means of exporting coal from nearby collieries owned by the Marquess of Londonderry. Completed in 1854, it ran from a station near the harbour to Ryhope Grange near Sunderland, where it joined the North Eastern Railway. The station was opened on 2 July 1855 and was originally named Seaham Colliery. The NER eventually purchased the line in 1900 and then opened a line southwards along the coast to West Hartlepool on 1 April 1905 to create a new coastal route between Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. A new through station was constructed at the same time and it is this that remains in use, the original Seaham Harbour terminus having closed to passengers on 11 September 1939. On 1 March 1925 the original Seaham station was renamed Seaham Harbour, and Seaham Colliery renamed Seaham.
Facilities
The station is unstaffed, but a self-service ticket machine is provided on the northbound platform to allow passengers to buy tickets before boarding or to collect pre-paid tickets. Train running information is offered via timetable posters, digital CIS displays and automatic announcements. Step-free access is available to both platforms.
Services
Northbound, an hourly service is provided to Sunderland and Newcastle upon Tyne (journey time approximately 35 minutes). One additional service is provided during morning peak time. Most services continue along the Tyne Valley Line to MetroCentre and Hexham.
Southbound, trains follow a similar pattern with an hourly service to Hartlepool and Middlesbrough (journey time approximately 45 minutes). Two additional services run at peak times. Most services continue beyond Middlesbrough to Nunthorpe.
Trains are also hourly on Sundays, generally running between Middlesbrough and MetroCentre, though the first services are not until mid-morning. During the summer, there is usually a morning through service from Newcastle to Whitby with an evening return working, allowing day trippers around five hours at the Yorkshire coastal resort.
Grand Central Railway services between Sunderland and London King's Cross use the line through Seaham but do not call there.