Harrogate railway station

Infobox UK station
name = Harrogate
code = HGT


manager = Northern Rail
locale = Harrogate
borough = Harrogate
start =
platforms = 2
usage0405 = 1.055
usage0506 = 1.097
usage0607 = 1.142

Harrogate railway station serves the town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Harrogate Line 29 km (18¼ miles) north of Leeds City Station. Northern Rail operate the station and provide all passenger train services except a daily NXEC service to London Kings Cross.

Facilities

There is a staffed ticket office open seven days a week. There is also a newsagent, cafe, key cutters, ATMs, photo booths and a waiting room. All of the facilities are located on the main concourse on Platform 1. There are 3 platforms, although only 2 are used regularly; platforms 1 and 3.

ervices

The Monday to Saturday daytime service is generally a half-hourly from Harrogate to Leeds (southbound) and to Knaresborough (eastbound) on the Harrogate Line with an hourly service onwards to York.

Evenings and Sundays there is generally an hourly service from Leeds through Harrogate towards Knaresborough and York.

Monday to Saturdays, one NXEC service starts in Harrogate and goes towards Horsforth and Leeds then onto London King's Cross. A petition to increase this service [http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/harrogate-london Petition to give Harrogate a better train service to London] ] is hosted on the Prime Minister's website. The petition has been successful with both NXEC and Hull Trains proposing to increase their Harrogate service in order to retain Harrogate's position as a major conference centre. Hull Trains, an open access operator, will start the first twice hourly services in summer 2009 subject to government approval. The service will be run under the brand First Harrogate Trains. [http://www.harrogatetrains.co.uk/ First Group -Harrogate Trains ] ]

There are proposals to create another station between Harrogate and Starbeck at Bilton.

Harrogate (Brunswick) station

Harrogate's first railway station, Brunswick, was the end of the branch line of the York and North Midland Railway and the first train arrived at Brunswick Station on 20 July 1848. This station was situated on the site where Trinity Church now stands, close to the Prince of Wales roundabout and some distance from either High or Low Harrogate. [http://harrogate.co.uk/biltonhistory/Thirsk%20Line.htm Bilton Historical Society] , accessed 18 September 2007] When the new line of the North Eastern Railway entered Harrogate via a cutting through The Stray, Brunswick was closed and the first train into the town centre station was on 1 August 1862. The station was largely demolished in 1964/65 and replaced with a more utilitarian one.

Former Routes

*Church Fenton - This route ran via Wetherby, where it interchanged with the Cross Gates to Wetherby line (closed in January 1964)

*Northallerton - This route ran via Ripon (closed to passengers in 1967 and completely in 1969) with a spur off to Pateley Bridge

External links

References

###@@@KEYEND@@@###