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 Preston line and is the nearest station to Blackpool Airport. Squires Gate is located about 400 metres (1,300 ft) from Starr Gate tram stop on the Blackpool Tramway.
Squires Gate  | |||||
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| General information | |||||
| Location | Squires Gate, Fylde England | ||||
| Coordinates | 53°46′38″N 3°03′01″W / 53.7773°N 3.0503°W | ||||
| Grid reference | SD30883173 | ||||
| Managed by | Northern | ||||
| Platforms | 1 | ||||
| Other information | |||||
| Station code | SQU | ||||
| Classification | DfT category F2 | ||||
| Key dates | |||||
| 1 April 1865 | Stony Hill Station opened | ||||
| 1872 | Stony Hill Station closed | ||||
| 14 September 1931 | Squires Gate Station opened[1] | ||||
| Passengers | |||||
| 2019/20 |  23,964 | ||||
| 2020/21 |  7,988 | ||||
| 2021/22 | 25,082 | ||||
| 2022/23 | 25,534 | ||||
| 2023/24 | 27,920 | ||||
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History
editBetween 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
editThe station is unstaffed, but has been provided with a ticket vending machine, digital Passenger Information Screen, and a long-line P.A system to offer train running information. CCTV, timetable posters are available.[5]
Services
editSquires 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 every other hour.
The majority of services on the line are operated by the Class 150 and 156.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ ""Blackpool History"" (PDF). (175 KiB), Blackpool Borough Council Tourism Division, accessed 17 October 2007
- ^ Welch, M.S. (2004) Lancashire Steam Finale, Runpast Publishing, Cheltenham, ISBN 1-870754-61-1, p.31
- ^ McRae, Andrew (1997). British Railway Camping Coach Holidays: The 1930s & British Railways (London Midland Region). Vol. Scenes from the Past: 30 (Part One). Foxline. pp. 22 & 50. ISBN 1-870119-48-7.
- ^ "Blackpool Airport - Masterplan" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2008.
- ^ Nations Rail Enquiries - Squires Gate NAtional Rail Enquiries
- ^ GB eNRT May 2023 Edition, Table 102 (Network Rail)
Further reading
edit- Bairstow, Martin (2001). Railways of Blackpool and the Fylde. Martin Bairstow Publications. ISBN 1-871944-23-6.
External links
edit
- Train times and station information for Squires Gate railway station from National Rail
| Preceding station |  National Rail
|
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern | ||||
| Historical railways | ||||
| South Shore | London, Midland and Scottish Railway Blackpool and Lytham Railway |
St Annes- -on-the-Sea | ||
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