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Coordinates: 52°23′46″N 1°58′48″W / 52.396°N 1.980°W / 52.396; -1.980
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| grid_name = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|Grid reference]]
| grid_name = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|Grid reference]]
| grid_position = {{gbmapscaled|SP013775|25|SP013775}}
| grid_position = {{gbmapscaled|SP013775|25|SP013775}}
| manager = [[West Midlands Trains|West Midlands Railway]]<ref>[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/LOB/details.html Station facilities for Longbridge]</ref>
| manager = [[West Midlands Trains|West Midlands Railway]]
| platforms = 2
| platforms = 2
| code = LOB
| code = LOB
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| events2 = Reopened
| events2 = Reopened
| mpassengers =
| mpassengers =
⚫
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2018/19 |passengers={{increase}} 1.053 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{decrease}} 1.029 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{decrease}} 1.029 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 0.239 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 0.239 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 0.525 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 0.525 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 0.686 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 0.686 million}}
⚫
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 0.817 million}}


| footnotes = Passenger statistics from the [[Office of Rail and Road]]
| footnotes = Passenger statistics from the [[Office of Rail and Road]]
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| mapframe-zoom = 13
| mapframe-zoom = 13
}}
}}
'''Longbridge railway station''' is a railway station serving the [[Longbridge]], [[Rednal]], [[Rubery]], and [[West Heath, West Midlands|West Heath]] areas in the far south-west of [[Birmingham]], [[England]]. It is on the [[Cross City Line]]. The station and all trains calling there are operated by [[West Midlands Trains]].
'''Longbridge railway station''' serves the [[Longbridge]], [[Rednal]], [[Rubery]] and [[West Heath, West Midlands|West Heath]] areas in the far south-west of [[Birmingham]], [[England]]. It is on the [[Cross City Line]]. The station, and all trains calling there, are operated by [[West Midlands Trains]].


==History==
==History==
⚫
[[File:Longbridge Station - geograph.org.uk - 1601412.jpg|thumb|left|Longbridge station in August 1979, still incomplete; it had opened the previous year]]
⚫
Two previous stations serving Longbridge have existed: The first was opened at a location just south of the current station in either 1840 or 1841, when the original [[Birmingham and Gloucester Railway]] opened, it did not prosper and closed in 1849.<ref name="Boynton">Boynton, John (1993). Rails Across The City, The Story of The Birmingham Cross City Line. Kidderminster: Mid England Books. {{ISBN|0-9522248-0-1}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Quick |first1=Michael |title=Railway Passenger Stations in Great Britain |url=https://rchs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Railway-Passenger-Stations.pdf|publisher=Railway and Canal Historical Society |access-date=17 March 2023 |page=294}}</ref>
⚫
[[File:Longbridge Station - geograph.org.uk - 1601412.jpg|thumb|left|Longbridge station in August 1979, still incomplete it had opened the previous year.]]
⚫
Another [[Longbridge railway station (1915–1964)|Longbridge station]] had existed nearby, on the [[Halesowen Railway]] branch to [[Old Hill railway station|Old Hill]]: this station only ever served workman's trains, and operated between 1915 and 1964.<ref name="Boynton"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Longbridge Station (Halesowen Railway) 1915 - 1964|url=http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/longbridge_halesowen_railway.php|publisher=Rail around Birmingham & the West Midlands|access-date=22 January 2016}}</ref> Until closure of much of the Longbridge factory, the disused track and Longbridge station building remained in situ.


⚫
Two previous stations serving Longbridge have existed. The first was opened at a location just south of the current station, in either 1840 or 1841, when the original [[Birmingham and Gloucester Railway]] opened; it did not prosper and closed in 1849.<ref name="Boynton">Boynton, John (1993). Rails Across The City, The Story of The Birmingham Cross City Line. Kidderminster: Mid England Books. {{ISBN|0-9522248-0-1}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Quick |first1=Michael |title=Railway Passenger Stations in Great Britain |url=https://rchs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Railway-Passenger-Stations.pdf|publisher=Railway and Canal Historical Society |access-date=17 March 2023 |page=294}}</ref>
⚫
The current station, on Tessall Lane, was built to the designs of the architect John Broome<ref>{{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=David |date=2018 |title=British Rail Architecture 1948-97 |publisher=Crecy Publishing Ltd |page=155 |isbn=9780860936855 }}</ref> and opened in 1978 under the auspices of [[British Rail]], as part of the [[West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive]]'s Cross-City Line scheme. It was built as a simple two platform station on the four-track line, with a turnback siding just south of the station for terminating services. Initially nearly all Cross-City Line services terminated here, until 1980 when some were extended to {{rws|Redditch}}. The line was electrified in 1993.<ref name="Boynton"/>

⚫
Another [[Longbridge railway station (1915–1964)|Longbridge station]] had existed nearby, on the [[Halesowen Railway]] branch to [[Old Hill railway station|Old Hill]]; this station only ever served workman's trains and operated between 1915 and 1964.<ref name="Boynton"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Longbridge station (Halesowen Railway) 1915 - 1964 |url=http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/longbridge_halesowen_railway.php|publisher=Rail around Birmingham & the West Midlands |access-date=22 January 2016}}</ref> Until closure of much of the Longbridge factory, the disused track and Longbridge station building remained in situ.

⚫
The current station, on Tessall Lane, was built to the designs of the architect John Broome<ref>{{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=David |date=2018 |title=British Rail Architecture 1948-97 |publisher=Crecy Publishing Ltd |page=155 |isbn=9780860936855 }}</ref> and opened in 1978 under the auspices of [[British Rail]], as part of the [[West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive]]'s Cross-City Line scheme. It was built as a simple two platform station on the four-track line, with a turnback siding just south of the station for terminating services. Initially, nearly all Cross-City Line services terminated here, until 1980 when some were extended to {{rws|Redditch}}. The line was electrified in 1993.<ref name="Boynton"/>

==Facilities==
The station has a ticket office, staffed seven days a week; there are also ticket machines. There is a car park, with spaces for 44 bicycles. It also has a disabled toilet, accessible via a [[RADAR key]].<ref>{{cite web |website=Nationalrail.co.uk |title=Longbridge (LOB) |url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/longbridge/}}</ref>

⚫
The station has level access from Longbridge Lane. The ticket office and footbridge are both accessible at this station. Platform 1 (for services towards Birmingham New Street) has a lift facility, whereas platform 2 (for trains towards Redditch and Bromsgrove) has a ramp to the platform from the main station building. The ramp has been criticised for being too steep, with requests calling for the lift facility to be reinstated.


==Services==
==Services==
[[File:Longbridge railway station with Class 323.jpg|thumb|Platforms at Longbridge with a [[Central Trains]] Class 323 departing towards Birmingham New Street]]
[[File:Longbridge railway station with Class 323.jpg|thumb|Platforms at Longbridge, with a [[Central Trains]] service departing towards Birmingham New Street]]
[[File:Class 730 020 at Longbridge Platform 1.jpg|thumb|A West Midlands Railway train arriving at platform 1 in 2024]]
The station is served by [[West Midlands Trains]].

The station is served by [[West Midlands Trains]] with local [[Transport for West Midlands]] branded ''Cross-City'' services operated using {{brc|730}} [[electric multiple units]].<ref name=Class730>{{cite web |title=Class 730 fleet |url=https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/whats-new/new-trains/class-730-fleet |publisher=West Midlands Railway}}</ref>


The off-peak service pattern is shown below.<ref>{{Cite web |website=West Midlands Railway |title=Train Timetables and Schedules |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=3 December 2024 |url= https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/journey-planning/timetables}}</ref>
During Monday-Saturday daytimes, there are four northbound trains per hour; two of these terminate at {{rws|Four Oaks}} (calling at all stations), with the other two continuing to {{rws|Lichfield Trent Valley}} (calling at all stations apart from Duddeston). The average journey time to Birmingham New Street is around twenty minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/journey-planning/timetables?station=Longbridge&crs=LOB|title=Train Timetables and Schedules {{!}} Longbridge |website=West Midlands Railway}}</ref>
Southbound trains operate every thirty minutes to [[Redditch railway station|Redditch]] and every thirty minutes to [[Bromsgrove railway station|Bromsgrove]]. Both services to Redditch call at {{rws|Alvechurch}} and {{rws|Barnt Green}}, with one Bromsgrove-bound train per hour calling at Barnt Green.


Mondays to Saturdays:
On Sundays, trains operate every twice per hour between Redditch and Lichfield Trent Valley, as well as one train per hour between Bromsgrove and Birmingham New Street, calling at all stations en route.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/media/3843/download?inline|title=Train Times {{!}} The Cross City Line {{!}} 21 May until 9 December 2023 |website=West Midlands Railway}}</ref>
* 4 trains per hour (tph) northbound to {{rws|Four Oaks}} via {{rws|University|England}}, {{rws|Birmingham New Street}} and {{rws|Sutton Coldfield}}, departing from platform 1; of which:
** 2 tph continue to {{rws|Lichfield Trent Valley}} via {{rws|Lichfield City}}, calling at all stations except {{rws|Duddeston}}
* 4 tph southbound to {{rws|Barnt Green}}, departing from platform 2; of which:
** 2 tph continue to {{rws|Redditch}} via {{rws|Alvechurch}}
** 2 tph continue to {{rws|Bromsgrove}}, 1 tph does not call at Barnt Green.


Sundays:
⚫
Since 29 July 2018, trains that used to terminate here were extended to Bromsgrove, except for a small number of early morning and late night trains, following the completion of a scheme to extend the Cross City electrification from Barnt Green.<ref>[http://www.railengineer.uk/2017/01/17/bromsgrove-corridor-resignalling/ Bromsgrove Corridor resignalling] ''Rail Engineer'' article 17 January 2017; Retrieved 7 June 2017</ref> Two trains per hour operate to/from Bromsgrove Mon-Sat and one each way per hour on Sundays; the latter starting/terminating at New Street.
* 2 tph northbound to Lichfield Trent Valley
* 2 tph southbound to Redditch
* 1 tph northbound to Birmingham New Street
* 1 tph southbound to Bromsgrove.


Services on Sundays call at all stations between Lichfield Trent Valley and Redditch, then all stations between Bromsgrove and Birmingham New Street.
===Disabled access===
⚫
The station has level access from Longbridge Lane. The ticket office and footbridge are both accessible at this station. Platform 1 (for services towards Birmingham New Street) has a lift facility, whereas platform 2 (for trains towards Redditch and Bromsgrove) has a ramp to the platform from the main station building. The ramp has been criticised for being too steep, with requests being called for the lift facility to be reinstated.


⚫
Since 29 July 2018, trains that used to terminate here were extended to Bromsgrove, except for a small number of early morning and late night trains, following the completion of a scheme to extend the Cross City electrification from Barnt Green.<ref>[https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/01/17/bromsgrove-corridor-resignalling/ Bromsgrove Corridor resignalling] ''Rail Engineer'' article 17 January 2017; Retrieved 7 June 2017</ref>
The station also has a disabled toilet, accessible via a [[RADAR key]].


=== Service patterns ===
{{rail start}}
{{rail start}}
{{rail line|previous={{rws|Northfield}}|next={{rws|Barnt Green}}<br /> or {{rws|Bromsgrove}}|route=[[West Midlands Trains|West Midlands Railway]]<br /><small>[[Cross City Line]]</small> |col={{WMT colour}}}}
{{s-rail-national|previous=Northfield|next=Barnt Green|toc=West Midlands Railway|route=Lichfield – Four Oaks – [[Birmingham to Worcester via Bromsgrove line|Birmingham – Bromsgrove/Redditch]]<br/>[[Cross-City Line]]|rowsmid=2|rows1=2}}
{{s-rail-national|previous=Northfield|next=Bromsgrove|toc=West Midlands Railway|route=Lichfield – Four Oaks – [[Birmingham to Worcester via Bromsgrove line|Birmingham – Bromsgrove/Redditch]]<br/>[[Cross-City Line]]|hidemid=yes|hide1=yes}}
{{s-rail-next|title=Disused}}
{{s-rail-next|title=Disused}}
{{s-rail-national|previous=Longbridge (1915-1964)|next=|toc=GWR|toc2=Midland Railway|route=[[Halesowen Railway]]|status=Disused|note=}}
{{s-rail-national|previous=Longbridge (1915-1964)|next=|toc=GWR|toc2=Midland Railway|route=[[Halesowen Railway]]|status=Disused|note=}}
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== Future plans ==
== Future plans ==
In 2022, [[Network Rail]] published the West Midlands Strategic Rail Advice. Among other things, this guide suggested that Longbridge becomes the main "secondary hub" along the CrossCity South, having direct links to [[Nottingham]], [[Cardiff]], [[Hereford]], and the [[South West England|South West]]. The train station would see approximately 32 services per hour.<ref>{{Cite web |title="West Midlands Strategic Advice 2022" |url=https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/regional-long-term-planning/North%2C%20West%20and%20Central/West%20Midlands%20Strategic%20Advice%202022.pdf |access-date= |website=Network Rail}}</ref>
In 2022, [[Network Rail]] published the ''West Midlands Strategic Rail Advice''. This guide suggested that Longbridge becomes the main "secondary hub" along the CrossCity South, having direct links to [[Nottingham]], [[Cardiff]], [[Hereford]],and the [[South West England|South West]]. The station would see approximately 32 services per hour.<ref>{{Cite web |title="West Midlands Strategic Advice 2022" |url=https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/regional-long-term-planning/North%2C%20West%20and%20Central/West%20Midlands%20Strategic%20Advice%202022.pdf |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Network Rail}}</ref>


This station could also be part of the newly re-instated [[Camp Hill line]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Midlands Mayor backs call to add Longbridge to new passenger line |url=https://b31.org.uk/2019/10/midlands-mayor-backs-call-to-add-longbridge-to-new-passenger-rail-line/ |website=B31 Voices}}</ref>
This station could also be part of the newly reinstated [[Camp Hill line]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Midlands Mayor backs call to add Longbridge to new passenger line |url=https://b31.org.uk/2019/10/midlands-mayor-backs-call-to-add-longbridge-to-new-passenger-rail-line/ |website=B31 Voices |date=29 October 2019}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 81: Line 97:
==External links==
==External links==
{{stn art lnk|LOB|B314HG}}
{{stn art lnk|LOB|B314HG}}
*[http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/longbridge.php Rail Around Birmingham and the West Midlands: Longbridge railway station]
* [http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/longbridge.php Rail Around Birmingham and the West Midlands: Longbridge railway station]
*[http://warwickshirerailways.com/lms/longbridge.htm Warwickshire Railways page]
* [http://warwickshirerailways.com/lms/longbridge.htm Warwickshire Railways page]


{{commons category|Longbridge railway station}}
{{commons category|Longbridge railway station}}

Latest revision as of 17:16, 3 December 2024

Not to be confused with Longbridge railway station (1915–1964).

Longbridge
National Rail
General information
LocationLongbridge, Birmingham
England
Coordinates52°23′46″N 1°58′48″W / 52.396°N 1.980°W / 52.396; -1.980
Grid referenceSP013775
Managed byWest Midlands Railway
Transit authorityTransport for West Midlands
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeLOB
Fare zone4
ClassificationDfT category E
History
Original companyBirmingham and Gloucester Railway
Key dates
15 November 1841Station opened
1 May 1849Closed
8 May 1978Reopened
Passengers
2019/20Decrease 1.029 million
2020/21Decrease 0.239 million
2021/22Increase 0.525 million
2022/23Increase 0.686 million
2023/24Increase 0.817 million
Location
Map
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Longbridge railway station serves the Longbridge, Rednal, Rubery and West Heath areas in the far south-west of Birmingham, England. It is on the Cross City Line. The station, and all trains calling there, are operated by West Midlands Trains.

History

[edit]
Longbridge station in August 1979, still incomplete; it had opened the previous year

Two previous stations serving Longbridge have existed. The first was opened at a location just south of the current station, in either 1840 or 1841, when the original Birmingham and Gloucester Railway opened; it did not prosper and closed in 1849.[1][2]

Another Longbridge station had existed nearby, on the Halesowen Railway branch to Old Hill; this station only ever served workman's trains and operated between 1915 and 1964.[1][3] Until closure of much of the Longbridge factory, the disused track and Longbridge station building remained in situ.

The current station, on Tessall Lane, was built to the designs of the architect John Broome[4] and opened in 1978 under the auspices of British Rail, as part of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive's Cross-City Line scheme. It was built as a simple two platform station on the four-track line, with a turnback siding just south of the station for terminating services. Initially, nearly all Cross-City Line services terminated here, until 1980 when some were extended to Redditch. The line was electrified in 1993.[1]

Facilities

[edit]

The station has a ticket office, staffed seven days a week; there are also ticket machines. There is a car park, with spaces for 44 bicycles. It also has a disabled toilet, accessible via a RADAR key.[5]

The station has level access from Longbridge Lane. The ticket office and footbridge are both accessible at this station. Platform 1 (for services towards Birmingham New Street) has a lift facility, whereas platform 2 (for trains towards Redditch and Bromsgrove) has a ramp to the platform from the main station building. The ramp has been criticised for being too steep, with requests calling for the lift facility to be reinstated.

Services

[edit]
Platforms at Longbridge, with a Central Trains service departing towards Birmingham New Street
A West Midlands Railway train arriving at platform 1 in 2024

The station is served by West Midlands Trains with local Transport for West Midlands branded Cross-City services operated using Class 730 electric multiple units.[6]

The off-peak service pattern is shown below.[7]

Mondays to Saturdays:

Sundays:

  • 2 tph northbound to Lichfield Trent Valley
  • 2 tph southbound to Redditch
  • 1 tph northbound to Birmingham New Street
  • 1 tph southbound to Bromsgrove.

Services on Sundays call at all stations between Lichfield Trent Valley and Redditch, then all stations between Bromsgrove and Birmingham New Street.

Since 29 July 2018, trains that used to terminate here were extended to Bromsgrove, except for a small number of early morning and late night trains, following the completion of a scheme to extend the Cross City electrification from Barnt Green.[8]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
West Midlands Railway
Disused railways
Great Western RailwayTerminus
Cofton   Birmingham and
Gloucester Railway 		  Moseley
Midland RailwayTerminus

Future plans

[edit]

In 2022, Network Rail published the West Midlands Strategic Rail Advice. This guide suggested that Longbridge becomes the main "secondary hub" along the CrossCity South, having direct links to Nottingham, Cardiff, Hereford,and the South West. The station would see approximately 32 services per hour.[9]

This station could also be part of the newly reinstated Camp Hill line.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Boynton, John (1993). Rails Across The City, The Story of The Birmingham Cross City Line. Kidderminster: Mid England Books. ISBN 0-9522248-0-1.
  2. ^ Quick, Michael. "Railway Passenger Stations in Great Britain" (PDF). Railway and Canal Historical Society. p. 294. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Longbridge station (Halesowen Railway) 1915 - 1964". Rail around Birmingham & the West Midlands. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  4. ^ Lawrence, David (2018). British Rail Architecture 1948-97. Crecy Publishing Ltd. p. 155. ISBN 9780860936855.
  5. ^ "Longbridge (LOB)". Nationalrail.co.uk.
  6. ^ "Class 730 fleet". West Midlands Railway.
  7. ^ "Train Timetables and Schedules". West Midlands Railway. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  8. ^ Bromsgrove Corridor resignalling Rail Engineer article 17 January 2017; Retrieved 7 June 2017
  9. ^ ""West Midlands Strategic Advice 2022"" (PDF). Network Rail. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Midlands Mayor backs call to add Longbridge to new passenger line". B31 Voices. 29 October 2019.
[edit]
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