Fairfield railway station (England)

Fairfield railway station serves the Fairfield area of Droylsden, Tameside, Greater Manchester and is 3.1 miles (5 km) east of Manchester Piccadilly station. It was opened by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway in 1892, when the branch to Chorlton-cum-Hardy opened, and replaced an earlier station that had opened with the line in 1841. The original station was west of the present station. For a suburban station, Fairfield has very low passenger usage (see figures right).

Fairfield
Location
Place	Droylsden
Local authority	Tameside
Grid reference	SJ904971
Operations
Station code	FRF
Managed by	Northern
Number of platforms	2
DfT category	F2
Live arrivals/departures, station information and onward connections from National Rail Enquiries
Annual rail passenger usage*
2014/15	23,992
2015/16	24,554
2016/17	33,968
2017/18	37,868
2018/19	41,296
History
1841	first station opened
1892	resited
National Rail – UK railway stations
* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Fairfield from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year.

Before Beeching, this station (then known as Fairfield for Droylsden) was a junction, with a pair of lines from the east breaking off and running to the south, thereby facilitating a route to Longsight, south Manchester and Manchester Central railway station. By means of a switchback to Gorton & Openshaw, this branch enabled the turning round of locomotives without need for a turntable in the area, which could have been invaluable for servicing both the Guide Bridge yards and the facilities of "Gorton Tank" and Beyer, Peacock loco factories. This line was known as the Fallowfield Loop Line and was closed to passengers in July 1958 and to all traffic in 1988.

The station currently has two platforms, but for many years had six,[1] with two island platforms and two side platforms. Two were used for local services, two for express services between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield, and two for services for Fallowfied Loop.

The station name was changed from Fairfield for Droylsden to Fairfield on 6 May 1974.[2]

Facilities

The amenities offered at the unstaffed station are very basic, with no ticket provision or permanent buildings other than basic waiting shelters. Train running information is provided by telephone and timetable posters. No step-free access is provided (staircases to main entrance from both platforms).[3]

Services

At Fairfield, there is an hourly service to Manchester Piccadilly and towards Rose Hill Marple via Guide Bridge; the evening service is limited & there is no Sunday service.[4]

Manchester-Glossop Line trains do not serve Fairfield, running fast between Ashburys & Guide Bridge.

References

1. Price, Bevan; Wright, Paul. "Fairfield Station". Disused Stations.
2. Slater, J.N., ed. (July 1974). "Notes and News: Stations renamed by LMR". Railway Magazine. London: IPC Transport Press Ltd. 120 (879): 363. ISSN 0033-8923.
3. Fairfield station facilities National Rail Enquiries
4. GB eNRT December 2016 Edition, Table 78

External links

• Train times and station information for Fairfield railway station (England) from National Rail

Preceding station		National Rail		Following station
Guide Bridge		Northern Hope Valley line Mondays-Saturdays only		Gorton
				Manchester Piccadilly
	Disused railways
Guide Bridge Line and station open		Great Central Railway Fallowfield Loop		Hyde Road Line and station closed