Seaham railway station

Seaham railway station serves the town of Seaham in County Durham, North East England. The station is located on the Durham Coast Line and is operated by Northern Trains, which provides all of its passenger services.

Seaham
LocationSeaham, County Durham
England
Coordinates54.837°N 1.341°W / 54.837; -1.341
Grid referenceNZ420495
Managed byNorthern Trains
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeSEA
ClassificationDfT category F1
History
Original companyLondonderry, Seaham and Sunderland Railway
Pre-groupingNorth Eastern Railway
Post-groupingLondon and North Eastern Railway
Key dates
2 July 1855Opened as Seaham Colliery
1 March 1925Renamed Seaham
Passengers
2015/16 137,948
2016/17 145,362
2017/18 140,894
2018/19 137,652
2019/20 138,938
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

The first rail route into the town (the Seaham & Sunderland Railway) was built as a means of exporting coal from nearby collieries owned by the Marquess of Londonderry. Completed in 1854, it ran from a station near the harbour to Ryhope Grange near Sunderland, where it joined the North Eastern Railway. The station was opened on 2 July 1855 and was originally named Seaham Colliery.[1] The NER eventually purchased the line in 1900 and then opened a line southwards along the coast to West Hartlepool on 1 April 1905[2] to create a new coastal route between Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. A new through station was constructed at the same time and it is this that remains in use, the original Seaham Harbour terminus having closed to passengers on 11 September 1939.[2] On 1 March 1925 the original Seaham station was renamed Seaham Harbour, and Seaham Colliery renamed Seaham.[1]

Facilities
Seaham railway station in 2020

The station facilities were improved during the 2010s to include fully lit waiting shelters and CCTV. The long-line Public Address system (PA) was renewed and upgraded with pre-recorded announcements.

The station is unstaffed, but a self-service ticket machine is provided on the northbound platform to allow passengers to buy tickets before boarding or to collect pre-paid tickets. Train running information is offered via timetable posters, digital CIS displays and automatic announcements. Step-free access is available to both platforms.[3]

Services
Route 2:
Durham Coast Line
 Newcastle
Heworth
Sunderland
Seaham
 Horden
 Hartlepool
 Seaton Carew
 Billingham
 Stockton
 Thornaby
 Middlesbrough
Most services extend to/from
Hexham or Nunthorpe.

Northbound, an hourly service is provided to Sunderland and Newcastle upon Tyne (journey time approximately 35 minutes). One additional service is provided during morning peak time. Most services continue along the Tyne Valley Line to MetroCentre and Hexham.[4]

Southbound, trains follow a similar pattern with an hourly service to Hartlepool and Middlesbrough (journey time approximately 45 minutes). Two additional services run at peak times. Most services continue beyond Middlesbrough to Nunthorpe, with two through trains to Whitby and a third to Castleton Moor.

Trains are also hourly on Sundays, generally running between Middlesbrough and Carlisle, though the first services are not until mid-morning. Three through services run from Newcastle to Whitby, with two return workings.

Grand Central services between Sunderland and London King's Cross use the line through Seaham but do not call there.

Notes
  1. Butt 1995, p. 207
  2. Body 1988, p. 150
  3. Seaham station facilitiesNational Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 3 February 2017
  4. GB National Rail Timetable December 2019 Edition, Table 44 (Network Rail)

References
  • Body, G. (1988). PSL Field Guides - Railways of the Eastern Region Volume 2. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-072-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 207. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Preceding station   National Rail   Following station
Northern Trains
  Historical railways  
Seaham (Harbour)
Line and station closed		   Londonderry, Seaham and
Sunderland Railway
Seaham–Sunderland Central		   Seaham Hall Dene
(Private station)
Line open, station closed
    Ryhope East
Line open, station closed
Hawthorn Tower Halt
Line open, station closed		   London and North Eastern Railway
Durham Coast Line		   Ryhope East
Line open, station closed
Easington
Line open, station closed		    


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