Bescar Lane railway station

Bescar Lane
National Rail
General information
LocationScarisbrick, West Lancashire
England
Grid referenceSD396145
Managed byNorthern Trains
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeBES
ClassificationDfT category F2
History
Opened9 April 1855
Original companyLancashire and Yorkshire Railway and East Lancashire Railway jointly
Pre-groupingLancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Passengers
2018/19Decrease 2,124
2019/20Increase 2,364
2020/21Decrease 572
2021/22Increase 2,516
2022/23Decrease 2,190
Location
Map
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Bescar Lane railway station is on the Manchester to Southport Line, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east of Southport in the village of Scarisbrick. Bescar Lane is an old cottage-style station, operated by Northern Trains. Its remote location, some distance from the centre of Scarisbrick Parish, is considered to be "problematic".[1]

History

The station opened on 9 April 1855 when the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) and the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) jointly opened the line from Wigan Wallgate to Southport London Street, the line and station had been planned, authorised and construction started by the Manchester and Southport Railway before it was acquired by the L&YR and ELR on 3 July 1854.[2][3] The main stone-built station building was built during this time, in the standard L&YR style which had been described as "solid, substantial, well built of stone in the Elizabethan style, neat without undue ornament".The station had the distinction of being the lowest station on that network, situated 12.5 feet (3.8 m) above sea-level.[4] The L&YR amalgamated with the London and North Western Railway on 1 January 1922 and in turn was grouped into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923. Nationalisation followed in 1948. Part of the line running from Bescar Lane directly to Southport through Blowick and St Luke's closed in 1965, in order to enable the closure of the level crossing on a busy road at Blowick, causing trains to divert through Meols Cop on a section of the old Liverpool, Southport and Preston Junction Railway.[5] When Sectorisation was introduced in the 1980s, the station was served by Regional Railways until the privatisation of British Rail.

The station's level crossing was controlled by a signal box until the early 1990s,[6] but this was closed and demolished after automatic barriers were installed and the fixed signals removed. The platform layout has also been altered, with the westbound platform moved to the opposite side of the crossing – previously both platforms were sited on the eastern side (the redundant one can still be seen).[7]

Bescar Lane railway station in 1966

Facilities

The station is unmanned and has no ticket machine, so all tickets must be purchased in advance or on the train. There are shelters on each platform, but no other permanent buildings. Train running information can be obtained from timetable posters or by telephone. Step-free access is available on both platforms.[8]

Services

Bescar Lane Railway Station in Lancashire
Bescar Lane Railway Station in Lancashire

Monday to Saturdays there is generally a two-hourly service to Southport westbound and Manchester Victoria via Wigan Wallgate and Bolton eastbound.[9] Most of these continue to Stalybridge.

The last service to Southport is at 21:29 and the last service towards Wigan Wallgate and Manchester stations is at 22:28. There is no Sunday service, though a normal service operates on most Bank Holidays.

References

  1. ^ Village History Archived 12 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Scarisbrick.org.uk. Retrieved on 29 May 2008.
  2. ^ Quick 2023, p. 79.
  3. ^ Grant 2017, p. 358.
  4. ^ Marshall 1969, p. 158.
  5. ^ Gell, Rob (1986). An Illustrated Survey of Railway Stations Between Southport & Liverpool 1848-1986. Heyday Publishing Company, ISBN 0-947562-04-4.
  6. ^ Bescar Lane level crossing and signal box in June 1991 Railwaymedia.co.uk; Retrieved 19 December 2016
  7. ^ Bescar Lane station in 2012 Thompson, Nigel Geograph.org; Retrieved 19 December 2016
  8. ^ Bescar Lane station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 19 December 2016
  9. ^ Great Britain eNRT December 2019 Edition, Table 82

Bibliography

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Meols Cop   Northern Trains
Manchester-Southport Line 		  New Lane
Disused railways
Blowick
Line and station closed 		  Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Manchester and Southport Railway 		  New Lane
Line and station open

53°37′26″N 2°54′54″W / 53.624°N 2.915°W / 53.624; -2.915