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List of British towns with no railway station
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This is a list of towns and cities in Great Britain with no railway station. Despite closures in the 1960s, most of which during the Beeching Axe, Great Britain has an extensive railway network, and most towns have railway stations. Some of the few larger towns without railway stations have proposals for new stations, which are noted below. Defining whether or not a town has a railway station can be problematic. Some of the largest towns in the list such as Dudley, Gosport, Oldham and Newcastle-under-Lyme are defined by the Office for National Statistics as being within larger conurbations, together with smaller towns such as Washington, Dunstable, Leigh, Skelmersdale and Ilkeston. In those cases, the conurbation as a whole has rail access. On the other hand, it may be argued that inclusion in a list of non-rail linked towns should be based not on a technical or administrative link but on the town's being an identifiable distinct community lacking proximity or practical accessibility to a railway station. This latter criterion seems to be used by Network Rail in its Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) documents, as in the 2009 North West Route Utilisation Strategy, which identifies Skelmersdale as a large separate "community" (even if administratively part of a larger conurbation) lacking rail access, suggesting ways of linking it to the rail network. Similarly, campaigners cite Dunstable as a distinct separate community for its lack of administrative links to Luton. Also, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive views Leigh as a separate entity for transport planning purposes even if it is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. If one excludes towns which can be considered as located within conurbations, the largest British towns without direct access to a railway station are Blyth (36,000), Rushden (35,500), Peterlee (30,000) and Coalville (30,000). Oldham (following temporary closure of the Oldham Loop Line before it reopened in summer 2012 as part of the Manchester Metro) was briefly the largest town without any rail connection. Other large towns not on the national network but served by metro/light rail services with connections to the network include Bury and South Shields. Fleetwood is served by the Blackpool tramway, but this currently has no connnection to the national network. Other towns are served only by a "parkway" some distance from the town; for example, Tiverton is served by Tiverton Parkway 4 miles away. Inclusion in the list below relates to population but also regional importance: the town may be small but remains the commercial and political centre of its area. England East of England *Aldeburgh terminus on branch line from Saxmundham closed 1966 *Ampthill on Midland Main Line closed 1959, route open but town now served by Flitwick *Aylsham had two stations: Aylsham North station, on Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, closed 1959, and Aylsham South station, on branch line from Wroxham to County School, closed 1952 *Brightlingsea terminus for Wivenhoe and Brightlingsea Railway closed 1964, now served by Great Bentley, closest station with car park facilities *Buntingford terminus of a branch line from closed 1964 *Bungay on Waveney Valley Line closed 1953 *Coggeshall served by Kelvedon *Chatteris on Great Eastern Railway March Line closed 1967 *Dereham closed 1969, now part of preserved Mid-Norfolk Railway *Dunmow on Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line closed to passenger 1952 *Dunstable had two stations: Dunstable Town and Dunstable North, on Dunstable Branch Lines, both closed 1965) *Fakenham had two stations: Fakenham East on Wells and Fakenham Railway, secondary route from Wymondham to Wells, closed 1964, and Fakeham West on Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, closed 1959 *Framlingham terminus of Framlingham Branch from Wickham Market closed 1952 *Gorleston had three stations on Yarmouth-Lowestoft Line: Gorleston North, closed 1942, Gorleston-on-Sea, closed 1970, and Gorleston Links, closed 1970 *Halstead on Colne Valley and Halstead Railway closed 1962 *Harleston, Norfolk on Waveney Valley Line until 1953 *Haverhill had two stations: Haverhill South station, on Colne Valley and Halstead Railway, closed 1924, and Haverhill North station, on Stour Valley Railway, closed 1967 *Chipping Ongar had Ongar station transferred to London Underground on 29 September 1949 but closed 1994, now part of preserved Epping Ongar Railway *Hunstanton terminus station of branch line from closed 1969 *Leiston on branch line from Saxmundham closed 1966, route open for freight *Maldon had two stations: Maldon East station, on Witham-Maldon branch line from Witham, closed 1964, and Maldon West station, on branch line from Woodham Ferrers, closed 1939 *Mildenhall, closed 1962, of branch line from Cambridge *Saffron Walden on Saffron Walden Railway until 1964, served by Audley End *Soham on Ipswich to Ely line closed 1965, route open and service may be restored *Southwold terminus of narrow gauge railway from Halesworth closed 1929 *Swaffham on Lynn and Dereham Railway closed 1968, also terminus of branch line from Thetford until 1964 *St Ives on branch line from Cambridge closed 1970, reopening rejected in favour of Cambridgeshire Guided Busway *Waltham Abbey served by Waltham Cross and Loughton stations *Wells-next-the-Sea terminus station of branch line from Wymondham via Fakenham East closed 1964, partly reopened as Wells and Walsingham Light Railway *Wisbech had three stations: Wisbech North station, on Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, closed 1959; Wisbech East station, on Great Eastern Railway secondary line from March to Magdalen Road (Watlington), closed 1968 but reopening to March under consideration; and Wisbech St Mary, also closed East Midlands *Alford formerly served by East Lincolnshire Railway between Grimsby and Boston *Ashbourne, Derbyshire formerly served by Ashbourne on Ashbourne Line to Buxton *Ashby-de-la-Zouch plans are to open new station on Leicester and Swannington Railway, currently open only to freight, as part of possible extension of Ivanhoe Line) *Bakewell formerly served by London, Midland and Scottish Railway * Bourne part of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway and the Great Northern Railway *Brackley had two stations: Brackley Central, on Great Central Main Line; and Brackley, part of Banbury to Verney Junction Branch Line *Clay Cross location of Clay Cross railway tunnel and formerly Clay Cross, just outside tunnel's northern entrance *Coalville Town plans to open new station on Leicester and Swannington Railway, currently freight only, as part of possible extension of Ivanhoe Line) *Daventry formerly part of Weedon to Leamington Spa line *Eastwood formerly part of Great Northern Railway, now served by Langley Mill railway station, previously called Langley Mill and Eastwood *Higham Ferrers plans for new Rushden Parkway railway station *Holbeach formerly part of Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway *Horncastle formerly terminus of Horncastle Branch of Great Northern Railway *Ilkeston had three stations: Ilkeston Junction & Cossall, part of Midland Railway; Ilkeston North, part of Great Northern Railway); and Ilkeston Town, part of Midland Railway *Irthlingborough formerly part of Northampton and Peterborough Railway *Louth formerly part of Great Northern Railway, plans for station to become terminus of Lincolnshire Wolds Railway *Lutterworth formerly on Great Central Railway *Mablethorpe formerly part of Great Northern Railway *Oundle formerly part of Northampton and Peterborough Railway *Raunds formerly part of Midland Railway *Rushden plans for new Rushden Parkway, Rushden railway station preserved as part of Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway *Southwell formerly branch line of Midland Railway) *Swadlincote formerly on Midland Railway *Thrapston had two stations: Thrapston Bridge Street, part of Northampton and Peterborough Railway; Thrapston Midland Road, part of Midland Railway) *Towcester formerly on Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway *Uppingham formerly terminus of branch line on London and North Western Railway *Warsop formerly on Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway *Wragby formerly on Louth to Bardney Line North East England *Alnwick formerly on Alnwick branch line of East Coast Main Line, now served by Alnmouth *Ashington *Barnard Castle *Bedlington *Blyth *Consett *Guisborough *Newbiggin-by-the-Sea *Peterlee (Horden) formerly served by the Durham Coast Line, but plans for opening a new station are under way *Spennymoor *South Shields formerly served by South Shields railway station, now by South Shields Metro station *Washington North West England *Alston, closed in 1976 *Ambleside never had railway station *Bacup formerly served by Rochdale to Bacup Line and Rawtenstall to Bacup Line *Barnoldswick *Bury, served only by Manchester Metrolink and heritage East Lancashire Railway *Clayton-le-Moors *Cockermouth formerly served by Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway and Cockermouth and Workington Railway *Coniston *Earby closed 1970 but SELRAP - Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership campaigns for it to be reopened *Egremont *Fleetwood served only by Blackpool trams *Garstang had two stations: Garstang and Catterall and Garstang Town *Great Harwood *Haslingden *Heywood served only by heritage East Lancashire Railway *Horwich served by Blackrod - Horwich Parkway railway station despite its name is further from Horwich. *Keswick formerly served by Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway closed 1972 *Leigh, served by Atherton station *Longridge *Lymm *Middleton now served by only Mills Hill station following closure of Middleton in 1965 *Middlewich *Oldham Mumps being converted to Manchester Metrolink. *Padiham *Penwortham *Ramsbottom served only by the heritage East Lancashire Railway *Rawtenstall served only by the heritage East Lancashire Railway *Skelmersdale formerly served by Skelmersdale Branch and potential candidate for reopening by Merseyrail *Tottington closed to passengers 1952, freight 1963 *Tyldesley *Whitworth formerly served by the Rochdale to Bacup Line South East England *Abingdon branch line terminus closed 1963, currently served by Radley and Didcot Parkway *Buckingham formerly part of Banbury to Verney Junction Branch Line *Carterton *Chipping Norton *Cowley, London *Cranbrook *Cranleigh *Fawley *Gosport part of Portsmouth Urban Area, served by ferry to Portsmouth Harbour *Hailsham * *Henfield * *Lydd *Marchwood *Midhurst had 2 stations. 1) Midhurst & 2) . *Newport Pagnell served by Wolverton station *Petworth *Steyning *Thame served by Haddenham and Thame Parkway railway station *Tadley *Uxbridge had 2 stations, 1) Uxbridge High Street & 2) Uxbridge Vine Street. It is now only served by London Underground *Wantage *Waterlooville *Westerham *Winslow closed but has proposals for reopening *Witney *Yateley Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight has its own rail line, the Island Line, but it is not connected to the rest of the national network. The following towns are not on the Island Line *Bembridge had a station (closed 1953) *Cowes had 2 stations. 1) Cowes 2) but tickets can be purchased between Cowes and mainland stations, allowing travel via ferry services *Freshwater had a station (closed 1953) *Newport had 3 stations. 1) Newport, 2 Newport & 3) Newport Pan lane *Ventnor had 2 stations. 1) Ventnor & 2 Ventnor West. Ventnor is currently served by bus from Shanklin South West England *Ashburton *Beaminster served by *Bideford *Blandford Forum closed 1966 *Bodmin served by Bodmin Parkway with preserved branch to central station Bodmin General *Bridport *Brixham *Bude closed 1966 *Burnham-on-Sea served by Highbridge and Burnham in Highbridge *Calne on branch line to Chippenham closed 1965 *Camelford closed 1966 *Chard had 3 stations. 1) Chard Central, 2) Chard Junction & 3) Chard Town *Clevedon *Cinderford *Cirencester had three stations 1) Cirencester Town, 2 Cirencester Watermoor & 3 Chesterton Lane Halt. Kemble stations is now the railhead. *Cullompton *Combpyne station closed in 1960s, on the Lyme Regis Branch Line *Corsham but has proposals for station to reopen *Dartmouth never had a direct rail service, is served by Kingswear across the river Dart *Devizes closed 1966 *Ferndown *Fowey *Glastonbury closed 1966 *Great Torrington *Helston *Holsworthy *Ilfracombe *Kingsbridge *Launceston on North Cornwall line, Great Western Railway from Plymouth closed 1966 from adjacent stations *Lyme Regis *Malmesbury *Marlborough, Wiltshire had two stations but all closed 1964 *Midsomer Norton closed 1966 *Minehead regualr service ended 1971, now on West Somerset Railway *Okehampton regular service ended 1972 but in recent years, summer weekend service runs to Exeter *Padstow closed 1967 *Portishead likely to reopen in future *Radstock had 2 stations. 1) Radstock North & 2) Radstock West *Ringwood *Royal Wootton Bassett *Seaton *Shaftesbury was served by Semley due to Shaftesbury being on a hill. *Shepton Mallet had 2 stations. 1) & 2) . *Sidmouth *Somerton *Street *Sturminster Newton closed 1966 *Tavistock had 2 stations. 1) Tavistock North & 2 Tavistock South. *Verwood *Wadebridge closed 1967 *Watchet regualar service ceased 1971, now on West Somerset Railway *Wellington *Wells had 3 stations. 1) Wells East Somerset, 2) & 3) . All closed 1963 *Wincanton closed 1966 *Wimborne Minster West Midlands *Alcester *Brierley Hill only freight trains since 1964 *Bromyard *Burntwood *Darlaston closed 1965. *Dudley no passenger trains near centre and no freight trains since 1993, served by suburban Coseley in Metropolitan Borough of Dudley *Ellesmere closed 1962. *Halesowen no passenger or freight trains since 1960s *Kenilworth closed in 1965, but Warwickshire County Council proposed building of new station *Kington *Leek Moorland and City Railways plan to resume rail services to Stoke-on-Trent, although the site of the former Leek station is now a supermarket. *Market Drayton *Newcastle-under-Lyme served by Stoke-on-Trent railway station *Newport *Oswestry *Ross-on-Wye *Sedgley never had train service because of hilly terrain *Stourport-on-Severn *Wednesbury had two stations: Wednesbury Central and Wednesbury Town, no passenger trains after 1972, but Midland Metro trams served latter since 1999 *West Bromwich *Willenhall had two stations: Willenhall Bilston Street and Willenhall Stafford Street Yorkshire and the Humber *Bawtry *Bedale *Catterick Garrison *Cleckheaton Central *Darfield (village, population 7,732) *Deepcar *Easingwold *Elland *Epworth *Heckmondwike *Hedon had 2 stations. 1) Hedon & 2) Hedon Racecourse. *Holmfirth *Hornsea had 2 stations. 1) Hornsea Bridge & 2) Hornsea Town. *Maltby *Market Weighton *Ossett *Otley *Pickering served by Pickering station on North Yorkshire Moors Railway *Pocklington *Ripon *Rawmarsh (village, population 18,210) *Richmond *Rothwell (is served by Woodlesford within boundaries of old Rothwell Urban District) *Stocksbridge *Tadcaster *Wath-upon-Dearne had 3 stations. 1) , 2) Wath Central & 3 Wath North. *Wetherby had 3 stations. 1) , 2) & 3) Wetherby Racecourse. *Withernsea Scotland North of Scotland *Aberfeldy *Aberfoyle *Alyth *Auchterarder *Banchory *Banff *Blairgowrie *Braemar *Brechin *Buckie *Coupar Angus *Crieff, Perthshire *Forfar *Fort Augustus *Fraserburgh *Grantown-on-Spey *John O'Groats *Kirriemuir *Lossiemouth *Peterhead *Scarfskerry Central Scotland (including Argyll) *Aberfoyle *Airth *Alva *Balfron *Balmore *Beith served by *Broxburn served by *Callander *Campbeltown *Chapelhall served by *Clackmannan served by *Dalkeith would be served by Eskbank station on proposed Waverley Railway line *Dollar served by *Doune *Dunoon connecting ferry service to station *East Linton *Erskine *Fintry *Grangemouth served by *Haddington *Inveraray *Kilbirnie *Killearn *Killin *Kilsyth served by *Kincardine *Kinross *Kippen *Kirkintilloch served by *Leven *Lennoxtown *Linwood, Renfrewshire *Lochgilphead *Menstrie served by *Milton of Campsie *Penicuik *Renfrew *Strathaven *Strathblane *St Andrews served by *Tillicoultry served by *Torrance *Whitburn South of Scotland *Castle Douglas *Dalbeattie *Duns *Eyemouth *Galashiels on Waverley line (under construction) *Gatehouse of Fleet *Hawick *Jedburgh *Kelso *Kirkcudbright *Mauchline *Melrose *Moffat until 1972 served by Beattock railway station. *Newton Stewart *Peebles *Portpatrick *Roxburgh *Selkirk *Wigtown Towns on islands with no railway service *Bowmore *Brodick *Kirkwall *Lerwick *Millport *Portree *Rothesay connecting ferry service to Wemyss Bay station *Stornoway *Stromness *Tobermory Wales *Aberaeron closed 1951 *Abertillery town would be served by Aberbeeg railway station according to part of Ebbw Valley Railway proposal *Amlwch *Bala *Bethesda *Brecon *Builth Wells served by Builth Road *Caernarfon *Cardigan *Connah's Quay *Cowbridge *Corwen *Denbigh *Dolgellau *Hay-on-Wye *Holywell *Lampeter closed 1965, one of few university towns with no railway *Laugharne *Llandysul *Llanfair Caereinion but Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway begins in town and continues to Welshpool, where there is mainline railway station *Llanfyllin *Llangefni *Llangollen *Llanidloes *Mold *Monmouth *Montgomery *Nefyn *New Quay never had a train service *Newcastle Emlyn closed for passengers 1952, freight 1973 * *Presteigne *Rhayader *Rhuddlan *Ruthin *St Asaph *St Clears through which trains have not stopped since 1960s, but local campaign group is attempting to persuade Network Rail to reopen the station *St David's *Talgarth *Tregaron *Usk *Ystradgynlais Channel Islands and Isle of Man These islands are geographically and culturally British, but legally and constitutionally, they are not part of the United Kingdom. Tourist railways remain on the Isle of Man and Alderney, but Jersey lost its two railway systems in the 1930s, and Guernsey never had a regular passenger rail service. See Also
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