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Crewkerne railway station

Coordinates: 50°52′25″N 2°46′38″W / 50.8736°N 2.7771°W / 50.8736; -2.7771
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Crewkerne
National Rail
General information
LocationCrewkerne, South Somerset
England
Coordinates50°52′25″N 2°46′38″W / 50.8736°N 2.7771°W / 50.8736; -2.7771
Grid referenceST453085
Managed bySouth Western Railway
Platforms1
Other information
Station codeCKN
ClassificationDfT category E
History
Original companyLondon and South Western Railway
Post-groupingSouthern Railway
Key dates
19 July 1860Opened
7 May 1967Line singled
Passengers
2019/20Decrease 0.159 million
2020/21Decrease 45,674
2021/22Increase 0.128 million
2022/23Increase 0.158 million
2023/24Increase 0.160 million
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Crewkerne railway station is located in Misterton in Somerset, England, and serves the area around the town of Crewkerne. It is 131 miles 33 chains (211.5 km) from London Waterloo on the West of England Main Line to Exeter. The main building is listed Grade II and is surrounded by several other old railway buildings.

History

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The goods shed built in 1860, photo taken in December 2009

The station was opened on 19 July 1860 when the LSWR opened its Yeovil and Exeter Railway. The main building was designed by Sir William Tite and has been designated as a Grade II listed building.[1] The office (converted to a cafe in late-2013) by the main road was used to operate the weighbridge. When it opened, a goods shed was built, now the site of a builder's yard. It can still be seen from the railway line today. A wooden signal box was erected in 1875 on the eastbound platform, just east of the main offices.[2][page needed]

In 1923 the LSWR became part of the Southern Railway following the Railways Act 1921, and on 1 January 1948 the Southern Railway was itself nationalised to become the Southern Region of British Railways.

The signal box built in 1960, photo taken in December 2009

A new signal box was built in 1960 a little to the east of the old one, which was then demolished, located between the old goods shed and the platforms.[3][page needed]

In January 1963 all the lines in the area transferred to the Western Region and on 7 May 1967 the main line was rationalised.[2][page needed] The 21.5 miles (34.6 km) section between Sherborne and Chard Junction was reduced to just a single track,[2][page needed] although this has since been shortened to just 16.8 miles (27.0 km) between Yeovil Junction and Chard Junction, where there is a loop, followed by more single track to east of Axminster.[4][page needed]

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Sutton Bingham Halt   London and South Western Railway
London Waterloo to Devon and Cornwall 		  Chard Junction

Accidents and incidents

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On 24 April 1953 it was the scene of an accident when an axle of Merchant Navy Class 35020 Bibby Line broke while it was passing the station. This caused the platform canopy to be demolished.[2][page needed]

Location

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The station is about a mile southeast of Crewkerne on the A356 road, which crosses the platform and railway on a bridge.[3][page needed] The entrance and platform are on the north side of the line, which is climbing westwards at 1 in 80 (1.25%) to the 206-yard (188 m) Crewkerne Tunnel.[2][page needed]

Services

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A SWR Class 159 DMU no. 159017 on Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo train calls at Crewkerne in July 2022

The station is managed by South Western Railway[5] who operate an hourly service throughout most of the week between Exeter St Davids and London Waterloo station.[6]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Yeovil Junction   South Western Railway
West of England Main Line 		  Axminster

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crewkerne railway station.
  1. ^ Historic England. "Crewkerne Railway Station (1345931)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e Phillips, Derek; Pryer, George (1997). The Salisbury to Exeter Line. Sparkford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-86093-525-6.
  3. ^ a b Oakley, Mike (2006). Somerset Railway Stations. Bristol: Redcliffe Press. ISBN 1-904537-54-5.
  4. ^ Jacobs, Gerald (2005). Railway Track Diagrams Book 3: Western. Bradford-on-Avon: Trackmaps. ISBN 0-9549866-1-X.
  5. ^ "Station Facilities: Crewkerne (CKN)". National Rail Enquiries. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  6. ^ Table 160 National Rail timetable, May 2016
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