Squires Gate railway station

Squires Gate railway station serves the Squires Gate area of the popular seaside resort of Blackpool, Lancashire, England, although it is located just outside the borough boundary. It lies on the Blackpool South to Colne line and is the nearest station to Blackpool International Airport. Squires Gate is located about 400 metres (1,300 ft) from Starr Gate tram stop on the Blackpool Tramway.

Squires Gate
Location
PlaceSquires Gate
Local authorityFylde
Coordinates53.7773°N 3.0503°W / 53.7773; -3.0503
Grid referenceSD30883173
Operations
Station codeSQU
Managed byNorthern
Number of platforms1
DfT categoryF2
Live arrivals/departures, station information and onward connections
from National Rail Enquiries
Annual rail passenger usage*
2014/15 21,524
2015/16 19,884
2016/17 19,972
2017/18 16,704
2018/19 18,054
History
1 April 1865Stony Hill Station opened
1872Stony Hill Station closed
14 September 1931Squires Gate Station opened[1]
National Rail – UK railway stations
* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Squires Gate from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year.

History

Between 1865 and 1872, Stony Hill railway station was located in the same area.[2] The present station opened on 14 September 1931 by the LMS. The station was host to 12 (LMS) caravans in 1937 and 1938 followed by 17 caravans in 1939. 15 camping coaches were also positioned here by the London Midland Region from 1954 to 1967, 14 in 1968 and 1969, 11 in 1970 and 12 in 1971.[3]

It was planned that Squires Gate may have been renamed Blackpool International Station at some point, along with the provision of direct and flat surface access from the station to the airport.[4]

Facilities

The station is unstaffed, but has been provided with a ticket machine, digital PIS screen and a long-line P.A system to offer train running information. CCTV, timetable posters and a pay phone are also available.[5]

Services

Squires Gate is served by an hourly service northbound to Blackpool South and southbound to Preston, operated by Northern who also manage the station.[6] Sunday services also run on an hourly frequency, running beyond Preston to Blackburn and Colne.

The majority of services on the line are operated by Class 142 Pacer trains, though Class 150 units also appear.

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References
  1. ""Blackpool History"" (PDF). (175 KiB), Blackpool Borough Council Tourism Division, accessed 17 October 2007
  2. Welch, M.S. (2004) Lancashire Steam Finale, Runpast Publishing, Cheltenham, ISBN 1-870754-61-1, p.31
  3. McRae, Andrew (1997). British Railway Camping Coach Holidays: The 1930s & British Railways (London Midland Region). Scenes from the Past: 30 (Part One). Foxline. pp. 22 & 50. ISBN 1-870119-48-7.
  4. "Blackpool Airport - Masterplan" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  5. Nations Rail Enquiries - Squires Gate NAtional Rail Enquiries
  6. GB eNRT May 2019 Edition, Table 97 (Network Rail)

Further reading
  • Bairstow, Martin (2001). Railways of Blackpool and the Fylde. Martin Bairstow Publications. ISBN 1-871944-23-6.
Preceding station National Rail Following station
Northern
Blackpool Branch Line
  Historical railways  
South Shore   London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Blackpool and Lytham Railway		   St Annes-
-on-the-Sea


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