Mexborough railway station

Mexborough railway station serves the former mining town of Mexborough, South Yorkshire, England. It is a station on the Sheffield to Doncaster Line 7 miles (11 km) south west of Doncaster.

Mexborough
LocationMexborough, Doncaster
England
Coordinates53.491°N 1.289°W / 53.491; -1.289
Grid referenceSK472996
Managed byNorthern
Transit authorityTravel South Yorkshire
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeMEX
Fare zoneDoncaster
ClassificationDfT category D
History
Opened4 March 1871
Passengers
2015/16 0.215 million
2016/17 0.210 million
2017/18 0.200 million
2018/19 0.192 million
2019/20 0.212 million
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

As the original station at Mexborough Junction did not serve the line to Rotherham and Sheffield when this opened it was replaced by a new station built immediately on the Doncaster side of the junction. The new station was approximately halfway between Mexborough Junction and Mexborough (Ferry Boat) Halt and was able to serve the town centre at the top of Station Road.

It was on 1 June 1874 that the third side of the triangle (Mexborough Reverse Curve) was put in place which allowed trains to work from the Sheffield line to Barnsley without need of reversal. This was closed on 5 September 1966.

The Barnsley to Doncaster local passenger services were withdrawn on 29 June 1959 and further changes in the area took place with the opening of Aldwarke Junction in 1966. From this date all passenger trains to Sheffield were routed to Sheffield Midland: at first via the Swinton curve, until its closure in January 1968, and thereafter via the Great Central route through the closed Kilnhurst Central. Nowadays trains mostly operate via the re-instated Swinton curve to the new Swinton (a few passenger trains still use the old GCR line for operational reasons).[1]

Mexborough once had a third platform which, in effect, made the Sheffield-bound platform an "island". This was used occasionally for regular passenger services travelling via the Great Central line to Sheffield but more often by excursion trains to East Coast resorts such as Scarborough, Bridlington and Cleethorpes. This platform face ceased to be used in the late 1970s but can still be seen.

As part of the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive's 4-year plan for upgrading the railways in the county, Mexborough received an upgraded waiting area and ticket office which were completed in May 1989.

In 2009/2010, Mexborough was further improved by help points, an updated PA system, refurbished toilets and booking office area, additional shelters and CCTV, information screens and improved access for the disabled.

Mexborough West Junction in 1950

In 2011 Mexborough won the category 'Station of the Year (Small)' at the National Rail Awards.[2]

Facilities

The station's booking office is manned each day on a part-time basis (06:00-19:00 Monday to Saturday, 08:00-16:00 Sundays). Outside these times, tickets must be bought on the train or in advance. There are waiting rooms on both platforms and a customer help point on platform 2. Digital display screens, timetable posters and automated train announcements offer train running information and there is step-free access to both platforms.[3]

Service

Monday to Saturday services consist of two westbound services per hour: both of which terminate at Sheffield. The two eastbound services travel run to Doncaster, with alternate services through to Adwick. On Sundays there is an hourly service to Sheffield and to Doncaster.[4]

Services are generally formed of Arriva Northern Class 142 and Class 144 'Pacer' DMU's; with Class 150, Class 153 and Class 158 also appearing on certain services. The latter units have become increasingly common since the winter 2019 timetable change, as the Pacer units are gradually being withdrawn from service and scrapped.

After the May 2018 timetable change, Mexborough no longer has direct trains to Scunthorpe or Lincoln, and the two Transpennine Express services that previously called here now pass through non-stop. Regular through trains to Hull have also now ceased (from December 2019), with passengers having to change at Doncaster for onward connections.

Preceding station   National Rail   Following station
Northern
Disused railways
Swinton Central   BR Eastern Region
Sheffield Victoria-Doncaster Line
   Conisbrough
Wath Central   BR Eastern Region
Doncaster-Barnsley Line
   Conisbrough

References
  1. "Passenger Train Services over Unusual Lines 2016 Edition, Yorkshire & Humberside Region" Archived 24 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 27 April 2016
  2. Rail, 21 September – 4 October 2011. p.12
  3. Mexborough station facilitiesNational Rail Enquiries
  4. Table 29 National Rail timetable, December 2019
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