Hest Bank North Junction

Hest Bank North Junction is a railway junction in Lancashire, England, where the Morecambe Branch Line joins the former London and North Western Railway (LNWR) line (now the West Coast Main Line (WCML)) in the down direction between Lancaster and Carnforth. It is also known as Morecambe North Junction. This line is currently being considered to become a community railway. Hest Bank railway station was situated here until its closure on 3 February 1969.[1] Little trace of the old station remains, the platforms having been demolished prior to the electrification of the line in 1973. It is also the only location on the entire 401 mile (643 km) WCML where the coastline and Irish Sea is visible from the railway.

Signalling

This junction, along with Hest Bank South Junction and Bare Lane Junction forms a triangular junction with the WCML. This junction is controlled from Preston Power Signal Box, although the former signal box remained until recently to supervise a pair of level crossings here and at Bolton-Le-Sands. The box was finally decommissioned in the spring of 2013[2] and control of the crossing transferred to the PSB using CCTV.

Accident history

The station was the location of a serious accident in 1965, when a broken rail led to the derailment at speed of a southbound sleeping car express.[3] There were no fatalities, although eleven passengers were injured.

References
  1. Photo of old station in 1968, shortly before closure www.derbysulzers.co.uk; Accessed 2014-02-18
  2. Network Rail - Improvements at three level crossings in MorecambeNetwork Rail website Press Release; Retrieved 2012-12-23
  3. Railway Accident at Hest Bank on 20 May 1965The Railways Archive; Retrieved 2012-11-08


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