Station code SWS DfT category F2 Number of platforms 2 | Grid reference SP587986 2011/12 58,630 | |
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Similar Sileby railway station, Tropical Birdland - Leicestershire, Abbey Pumping Station, King Richard III Visitor Ce, New Walk Museum | ||
South Wigston railway station is a railway station serving the suburb of South Wigston, Leicester, England. The station is on the Birmingham to Peterborough Line about 2 miles (3 km) south of Leicester. South Wigston station is owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains (EMT) train operating company (TOC). Not all trains operating between Birmingham and Leicester stop here. Although the station is only served by CrossCountry, it is managed by East Midlands Trains as CrossCountry does not manage any stations.
Contents
The station is unstaffed, so passengers buy the full range of tickets for travel from the guard on the train at no extra cost. Facilities on the platforms are limited, consisting only of two "bus shelter" type canopies to protect passengers from the weather and a time-table and notice board.
History
Wigston had three railway stations: Wigston South on the Midland Counties Railway opened in 1840, Wigston Magna on the Midland Main Line opened in 1857 and Glen Parva on the South Leicestershire Railway opened in the 1860s. However, British Railways closed all three stations by 1968.
The present South Wigston station was opened on Saturday 10 May 1986 and is at a new site about 300 metres east of the site of the former Glen Parva station. The new station cost £135,000 to build and was funded by Leicestershire County Council.
There has been talk of a car park for commuters on the adjacent wasteland within the Wigston railway triangle, but this has never been progressed and the land remains a haven for wildlife.
The station was managed by Central Trains until 2007, who operated all trains calling at the station; when the franchise ended, the station management transferred to East Midlands Trains and all services calling are operated by CrossCountry.
South Wigston station's two platforms are staggered, one each side of a wide footbridge over the railway. Network Rail plans to extend the "up" side platform by up to two metres by 2012 to cater for 4 car trains.
Services
There are regular services to Leicester and Birmingham New Street: usually one train in each direction every two hours (Monday to Sunday), increased to hourly or even half-hourly in peak times. A few peak period trains on the service between New Street and Stansted Airport via Cambridge call at South Wigston, but most pass through without stopping.