Pontefract Monkhill railway station: Difference between revisions

Notes
	Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Pontefract Monkhill
Pontefract Monkhill
	A Class 153 diesel multiple unit no.153307 at platform 2 in July 2006
General information
Location	Pontefract, City of Wakefield; England
Coordinates	53°41′56″N 1°18′14″W / 53.6988°N 1.3040°W
Grid reference	SE460227
Managed by	Northern Trains
Transit authority	West Yorkshire Metro
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	PFM
Fare zone	3
Classification	DfT category F1
History
Opened	1 April 1848
Passengers
2019/20	0.293 million
2020/21	78,436
Interchange	1,240
2021/22	0.229 million
Interchange	3,670
2022/23	0.198 million
Interchange	4,381
2023/24	0.211 million
Interchange	6,480
Notes
Notes
	Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

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Pontefract Monkhill railway station is the busiest station in the market town of Pontefract in West Yorkshire, England. The station is on the Pontefract Line managed by Northern but is also served by Grand Central and is 14 miles (23 km) south east of Leeds.

The other stations in the town are Pontefract Tanshelf and Pontefract Baghill.

History

The lines to Leeds via Castleford and Wakefield Kirkgate separate immediately west of the station, which was opened by the Wakefield, Pontefract & Goole Railway (one of the constituent companies of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway) in April 1848.^[1] The branch to Castleford (Cutsyke) & Methley Junction was completed the following year (on 1 December) and a pair of short curves were subsequently constructed from the eastern end to link up with the Swinton & Knottingley Joint line following its opening in the spring of 1879. One of these was used by passenger trains between Leeds & Pontefract Baghill until 1964, although it has since been lifted. The Wakefield to Goole passenger service was withdrawn on 2 January 1967^[1] (although trains to and from Goole continued, running instead to Castleford & Leeds) but the line remained open to carry coal to the power stations to the east of Knottingley. Services on the Wakefield to Knottingley route were reinstated on 11 May 1992.

Facilities

The station is unstaffed and no longer has permanent buildings other than standard waiting shelters. There is an automated ticket machine on the Leeds bound platform. There are digital information screens and timetable posters on both platforms, along with a customer help point on platform 1. Step-free access is only available from the car park to platform 1, as platform 2 (towards Knottingley and Goole) can only be reached via the footbridge (which has stairs).^[2]

Services

From Mondays to Saturdays, there is a roughly half-hourly service operated by Northern between Leeds and Knottingley.

In the Leeds direction, alternate trains run via Castleford or Featherstone and Wakefield Westgate.^[3] Three trains via Castleford are extended to or from Goole: one service from Goole to Leeds in the morning (which is formed from an empty train that runs towards Goole earlier) and one return trip from Leeds to Goole in the evening.

On Sundays the service is hourly, with trains also running alternately via Castleford and Wakefield to Leeds, and no services operate past Knottingley to Goole.

Preceding station		Following station
Glasshoughton	Northern Trains Pontefract Line	Knottingley
Pontefract Tanshelf	Northern Trains Pontefract Line	Knottingley
Doncaster	Grand Central West Riding	Wakefield Kirkgate

London

In January 2009, open access operator Grand Central was given the go ahead by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to operate a service between Bradford Interchange and London King's Cross^[4] which call here (giving the station a regular service to the capital for the first time). Three daily paths in each direction are allocated for these new trains, although one morning northbound service uses a different route between Doncaster and Wakefield and consequently does not call here.

The service is operated and branded by Grand Central, using refurbished Class 180 units, and started on 23 May 2010.^[5] However, according to a recent^[when?] document submitted the ORR, only 15 passengers a day (on average)^[6] are making use of the new service.

The timetable has though been altered to serve Mirfield in addition to the other intermediate stops since December 2011, although only one of the three northbound trains actually serves both this station and Mirfield (the evening departure from King's Cross is routed via Adwick and Fitzwilliam and so does not call here, whilst the morning one calls but omits the Mirfield stop).

As of 2023, there are three southbound services and two northbound services per day on weekdays. On Saturdays this is increased to four southbound services but reduced to one northbound service. There is no Grand Central service on Sundays.^[7]

Notes

^ ^a ^b Body, p. 143
^ Pontefract Monkhill station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 19 January 2017
^ Table 32 National Rail timetable, May 2019
^ ORR Track Access Applications Decision for the ECML – 28 January 2009 Archived 24 March 2009 at the UK Government Web Archive ORR Website; Retrieved 29 January 2009
^ RAIL issue 641
^ "End of the line for rail link?". Pontefract and Castleford Express News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
^ West Yorkshire and Doncaster timetable

References

Body, G. (1988), PSL Field Guides – Railways of the Eastern Region Volume 2, Patrick Stephens Ltd, Wellingborough, ISBN 1-85260-072-1

External links

Media related to Pontefract Monkhill railway station at Wikimedia Commons

Train times and station information for Pontefract Monkhill railway station from National Rail

[Body,_p._143-1] Body, p. 143

[2] Pontefract Monkhill station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 19 January 2017

[3] Table 32 National Rail timetable, May 2019

[4] ORR Track Access Applications Decision for the ECML – 28 January 2009 Archived 24 March 2009 at the UK Government Web Archive ORR Website; Retrieved 29 January 2009

[5] RAIL issue 641

[6] "End of the line for rail link?". Pontefract and Castleford Express News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2011.

[7] West Yorkshire and Doncaster timetable

[North_Yorkshire-8] Stations in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees are considered part of North East England, while stations in the unitary areas of York and North Yorkshire are considered part of Yorkshire and the Humber.

[9] Stations in North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire are considered part of Yorkshire and the Humber, while all other stations are considered part of the East Midlands.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[a]

[b]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 | symbol              = rail
 | image               = Pontefract Monkhill stn p2.jpg
-| caption             = A [[British Rail Class 153|Class 153]] unit at platform 2
+| caption             = A [[British Rail Class 153|Class 153]] diesel multiple unit no.153307 at platform 2 in July 2006
 | borough             = [[Pontefract]], [[City of Wakefield]]
 | country             = England
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 | classification      = [[United Kingdom railway station categories|DfT category]] F1
 | transit_authority   = [[West Yorkshire Metro]]
-| opened              = 1848
+| opened              = 1 April 1848
 | mpassengers =
 <!--{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2014/15 |passengers={{increase}} 0.242 million}}
 {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2015/16 |passengers={{increase}} 0.253 million}}
-{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2016/17 |passengers={{increase}} 0.272 million}}-->
+{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2016/17 |passengers={{increase}} 0.272 million}}
 {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2017/18 |passengers={{decrease}} 0.261 million}}
-{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2018/19 |passengers={{increase}} 0.272 million}}
+{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2018/19 |passengers={{increase}} 0.272 million}}-->
 {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{increase}} 0.293 million}}
 {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 78,436 |interchange={{pad|2em}} 1,240}}
 {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 0.229 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 3,670}}
+{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{decrease}} 0.198 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 4,381}}
+{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 0.211 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 6,480}}
 | footnotes           = Passenger statistics from the [[Office of Rail and Road]]
 }}
-'''Pontefract Monkhill railway station''' is the busiest station in the town of [[Pontefract]], [[West Yorkshire]], [[England]]. The station is on the [[Pontefract Line]] managed by [[Northern (train operating company)|Northern]] but is also served by [[Grand Central (train operating company)|Grand Central]] and is {{convert|14|mi|km}} south east of [[Leeds railway station|Leeds]].
+'''Pontefract Monkhill railway station''' is the busiest station in the market town of [[Pontefract]] in [[West Yorkshire]], [[England]]. The station is on the [[Pontefract Line]] managed by [[Northern (train operating company)|Northern]] but is also served by [[Grand Central (train operating company)|Grand Central]] and is {{convert|14|mi|km}} south east of [[Leeds railway station|Leeds]].
 The other stations in the town are [[Pontefract Tanshelf railway station|Pontefract Tanshelf]] and [[Pontefract Baghill railway station|Pontefract Baghill]].
 ==History==
-[[File:Pontefract Monkhill Station - geograph.org.uk - 332902.jpg|thumb|left|The station in 1987.]]
+[[File:Pontefract Monkhill Station - geograph.org.uk - 332902.jpg|thumb|left|The station in July 1987]]
-The lines to Leeds via [[Castleford]] and Wakefield Kirkgate separate immediately west of the station, which was opened by the ''Wakefield, Pontefract & Goole Railway'' (one of the constituent companies of the [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]]) in April 1848.<ref name="Body, p. 143">Body, p.&nbsp;143</ref> The branch to Castleford (Cutsyke) & Methley Junction was completed the following year (on 1 December) and a pair of short curves were subsequently constructed from the eastern end to link up with the [[Swinton & Knottingley Joint Railway|Swinton & Knottingley Joint line]] following its opening in the spring of 1879.  One of these was used by passenger trains between Leeds & Pontefract Baghill until 1964, although it has since been lifted.  The Wakefield to [[Goole railway station|Goole]] passenger service was withdrawn on 2 January 1967<ref name="Body, p. 143"/> (although trains to and from Goole continued, running instead to Castleford & Leeds) but the line remained open to carry coal to the power stations to the east of [[Knottingley]].  Services on the Wakefield to Knottingley route were reinstated in May 1992.
+The lines to Leeds via [[Castleford]] and Wakefield Kirkgate separate immediately west of the station, which was opened by the ''Wakefield, Pontefract & Goole Railway'' (one of the constituent companies of the [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]]) in April 1848.<ref name="Body, p. 143">Body, p.&nbsp;143</ref> The branch to Castleford (Cutsyke) & Methley Junction was completed the following year (on 1 December) and a pair of short curves were subsequently constructed from the eastern end to link up with the [[Swinton & Knottingley Joint Railway|Swinton & Knottingley Joint line]] following its opening in the spring of 1879.  One of these was used by passenger trains between Leeds & Pontefract Baghill until 1964, although it has since been lifted.  The Wakefield to [[Goole railway station|Goole]] passenger service was withdrawn on 2 January 1967<ref name="Body, p. 143"/> (although trains to and from Goole continued, running instead to Castleford & Leeds) but the line remained open to carry coal to the power stations to the east of [[Knottingley]].  Services on the Wakefield to Knottingley route were reinstated on 11 May 1992.
 ==Facilities==
@@ Line 56: / Line 58: @@
 ===London===
-In January 2009, open access operator [[Grand Central (train operating company)|Grand Central]] was given the go ahead by the [[Office of Rail Regulation]] (ORR) to operate a service between [[Bradford Interchange]] and [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]]<ref>[http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/ecml-cap2_propdec_280109.pdf ORR Track Access Applications Decision for the ECML - 28 January 2009] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090324151301/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/ecml-cap2_propdec_280109.pdf |date=24 March 2009 }} ORR Website; Retrieved 29 January 2009</ref> which call here (giving the station a regular service to the capital for the first time).  Three daily paths in each direction are allocated for these new trains, although one morning northbound service uses a different route between Doncaster and Wakefield and consequently does not call here.
+In January 2009, open access operator [[Grand Central (train operating company)|Grand Central]] was given the go ahead by the [[Office of Rail Regulation]] (ORR) to operate a service between [[Bradford Interchange]] and [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]]<ref>[http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/ecml-cap2_propdec_280109.pdf ORR Track Access Applications Decision for the ECML – 28 January 2009] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090324151301/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/ecml-cap2_propdec_280109.pdf |date=24 March 2009 }} ORR Website; Retrieved 29 January 2009</ref> which call here (giving the station a regular service to the capital for the first time).  Three daily paths in each direction are allocated for these new trains, although one morning northbound service uses a different route between Doncaster and Wakefield and consequently does not call here.
 The service is operated and branded by [[Grand Central (train operating company)|Grand Central]], using refurbished [[British Rail Class 180|Class 180]] units, and started on 23 May 2010.<ref>[[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]] issue 641</ref>  However, according to a recent{{when|date=July 2020}} document submitted the ORR, only 15 passengers a day (on average)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/news/local/ackworth/end_of_the_line_for_rail_link_1_3035691 |title=End of the line for rail link?|work= Pontefract and Castleford Express News |access-date= 19 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604182137/http://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/news/local/more-local-news/end-of-the-line-for-rail-link-1-3035691|archive-date=4 June 2012}}</ref> are making use of the new service.
@@ Line 72: / Line 74: @@
 ==References==
-*Body, G. (1988), ''PSL Field Guides - Railways of the Eastern Region Volume 2'', Patrick Stephens Ltd, Wellingborough, {{ISBN|1-85260-072-1}}
+*Body, G. (1988), ''PSL Field Guides – Railways of the Eastern Region Volume 2'', Patrick Stephens Ltd, Wellingborough, {{ISBN|1-85260-072-1}}
 ==External links==
@@ Line 88: / Line 90: @@
 [[Category:DfT Category F1 stations]]
 [[Category:Former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway stations]]
-[[Category:Northern franchise railway stations]]
+[[Category:Railway stations served by Northern]]
 [[Category:Pontefract]]
 [[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1848]]

v t e Railway stations in West Yorkshire
Lists	List of busiest railway stations in West Yorkshire
MetroTrain lines	■ Airedale ■ Calder Valley ■ Dearne Valley ■ Hallam ■ Harrogate ■ Huddersfield ■ Leeds–Bradford ■ Penistone ■ Pontefract ■ Wakefield ■ Wharfedale
City of Bradford	Apperley Bridge Baildon Ben Rhydding Bingley Bradford Forster Square Bradford Interchange Burley-in-Wharfedale Crossflatts Frizinghall Ilkley Low Moor Keighley Menston Saltaire Shipley Steeton and Silsden
Calderdale	Brighouse Halifax Hebden Bridge Mytholmroyd Sowerby Bridge Todmorden Walsden
Kirklees	Batley Berry Brow Brockholes Deighton Denby Dale Dewsbury Honley Huddersfield Lockwood Marsden Mirfield Ravensthorpe Shepley Slaithwaite Stocksmoor
City of Leeds	Bramley Burley Park Cottingley Cross Gates East Garforth Garforth Guiseley Headingley Horsforth Kirkstall Forge Leeds Micklefield Morley New Pudsey Woodlesford
City of Wakefield	Castleford Featherstone Fitzwilliam Glasshoughton Knottingley Moorthorpe Normanton Outwood Pontefract Baghill Pontefract Monkhill Pontefract Tanshelf Sandal and Agbrigg South Elmsall Streethouse Wakefield Kirkgate Wakefield Westgate
Outside West Yorkshire, but within the West Yorkshire Metro area	Cononley Darton Harrogate Hornbeam Park Pannal Skipton Weeton