What condition is Norton Bridge station in these days?

[swt class 450]

Does anyone know what exactly remains of Norton Bridge station today? What is the current condition like? Are the platforms still there? Is the footbridge still there? Any information would be appreciated (or any recent photos would be great to see). Many thanks.

 

[The Planner]

Remains of the platform, that's it, no access to it or anything.

 

[swt class 450]

Many thanks for the info. I wonder what the conditions of the platforms is like. I would imagine it is probably fairly overgrown. Unless there is any maintenance work carried out by Network Rail to upkeep it. Is it possible to see the station from the public roads at all? Is there anywhere where you can get photos of it from?

 

[Elecman]

Here you go Norton Bridge this morning. Platform overgrown, lighting columns still there platform copers still in place, old platform building demolished

 

[onlinespotting]

Certain trains do stop by the platform similar to Wedgwood, they are both still getting a ‘Newhaven Marine’ type train service and the replacement bus is still running to norton bridge

 

[The Planner]

Norton Bridge is officially closed, there are no services to it. Anything that does stop by the platform is being regulated by signals, more than likely off the chord.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Norton Bridge was officially closed on the 10 December 2017 and has been through the procedure. No services have ran since May 2003.

 

[Kite159]

Deleted

Yes

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/norton-bridge-station-closure

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Yes

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/norton-bridge-station-closure

I realized after that I was think of a different station. Thanks anyway

 

[Esker-pades]

I visited the station in January of this year. See here (my blog) or here (alternative version published in the trips section of the forum). There are pictures which give a pretty good idea of the state of the station.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

Certain trains do stop by the platform similar to Wedgwood, they are both still getting a ‘Newhaven Marine’ type train service and the replacement bus is still running to norton bridge

Quote from NRE:
"This station is closed and train services no longer call here.The station has now been officially permanently closed with effect from 10 December 2017.

The services shown in our Journey Planner are replacement bus services which leave from the bus stop at the end of Station Drive, on Station Road, Norton Bridge.This replacement bus service will continue until March 2019 when it too will be permanently withdrawn".

Why March though?

 

[Esker-pades]

Quote from NRE:
"This station is closed and train services no longer call here.The station has now been officially permanently closed with effect from 10 December 2017.

The services shown in our Journey Planner are replacement bus services which leave from the bus stop at the end of Station Drive, on Station Road, Norton Bridge.This replacement bus service will continue until March 2019 when it too will be permanently withdrawn".

Why March though?

To give the council time to see if they want to continue running the bus without the subsidy.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

To give the council time to see if they want to continue running the bus without the subsidy.

So, end of Financial Year, not Timetable?

 

[DarloRich]

Certain trains do stop by the platform similar to Wedgwood, they are both still getting a ‘Newhaven Marine’ type train service and the replacement bus is still running to norton bridge

Only by coincidence do trains still "stop" there.

 

[Esker-pades]

So, end of Financial Year, not Timetable?

End of March 2019 is when buses are being withdrawn.

 

[sprinterguy]

I visited the station in January of this year. See here (my blog) or here (alternative version published in the trips section of the forum). There are pictures which give a pretty good idea of the state of the station.

I'm slightly disappointed but not really surprised that The Railway pub has finally closed down. It was a nice little village pub, but did seem to struggle for custom when I visited during the day.

 

[infobleep]

End of March 2019 is when buses are being withdrawn.

Given the bus service is going, it's amazing Norton Bridge survived as a station post 1960s.

 

[Esker-pades]

I'm slightly disappointed but not really surprised that The Railway pub has finally closed down. It was a nice little village pub, but did seem to struggle for custom when I visited during the day.

How long ago was that? It looked like it had been closed for a good few years.

 

[onlinespotting]

Only by coincidence do trains still "stop" there.

I was being facetious and making a note that there is more than one train that stops here and Wedgwood and batlaston and making a point that this as well as the bus service means that a closed station receives a better service than an open station

 

[onlinespotting]

How long ago was that? It looked like it had been closed for a good few years.

It officially closed sometime in December, the replacement bus still runs till we leave Europe but as far as infrastructure is concerned there is still a car park, it is a major junction and presumably the infrastructure to the junction has more cameras installed than the original station would have had

 

[agbrs_Jack]

Here is a picture of the platform I took from the 0705 MAN-BHM (cancelled BHM-BRI) this morning. Train stopped at the platform as there was congestion due to the bridge strike yesterday.

 

[Esker-pades]

It officially closed sometime in December, the replacement bus still runs till we leave Europe but as far as infrastructure is concerned there is still a car park, it is a major junction and presumably the infrastructure to the junction has more cameras installed than the original station would have had

Yeah, you've not read back far enough. I've got the history of the station nailed. My request here was to do with the station pub.

 

[onlinespotting]

‘
Does anyone know what exactly remains of Norton Bridge station today? What is the current condition like? Are the platforms still there? Is the footbridge still there? Any information would be appreciated (or any recent photos would be great to see). Many thanks.

’ was the OP

 

[Esker-pades]

‘
Does anyone know what exactly remains of Norton Bridge station today? What is the current condition like? Are the platforms still there? Is the footbridge still there? Any information would be appreciated (or any recent photos would be great to see). Many thanks.

’ was the OP

I agree. And your response was a great answer to the OP. But, you quoted my message, which was in response to someone who had expressed their displeasure at the closure of the village pub. I was asking when that pub was last open.

 

[gazthomas]

Looking at TripAdvisor and this site I would suggest sometime in 2016?

https://whatpub.com/pubs/STA/1971/railway-inn-norton-bridge

 

[Esker-pades]

Looking at TripAdvisor and this site I would suggest sometime in 2016?

https://whatpub.com/pubs/STA/1971/railway-inn-norton-bridge

Brilliant. Thanks very much. It looked like it had been closed for a bit longer than that when I went in January of this year.

 

[onlinespotting]

Apologies to Felix the cat if I have misquoted you - I should have read the full thread

 

[Esker-pades]

Apologies to Felix the cat if I have misquoted you - I should have read the full thread

No problem! Your original comment was good, just not to be directed at me .

 

[vlad]

I was being facetious and making a note that there is more than one train that stops here and Wedgwood and batlaston and making a point that this as well as the bus service means that a closed station receives a better service than an open station

You can use a similar argument to say that Ardwick is one of the best-served stations in the country.

 

[sprinterguy]

How long ago was that? It looked like it had been closed for a good few years.

To be fair, thinking about it it was probably the best part of ten years ago! According to the Whatpub website, it closed in 2016:
https://whatpub.com/pubs/STA/1971/railway-inn-norton-bridge

Formerly "The pub is at the very heart of the village community hosting events of various types. There are a wide selection of games including darts, crib, and dominoes, also a quiz night on Sundays. The North Staffordshire BSA Owners Club meet here once a month. The pub has a band which practices on Wednesdays. There is a bar and separate rear lounge, both served by a small central servery. The building has a number of original features. Although it is technically open train services do not call at Norton Bridge station; transport is provided by D&G Bus (service 13), calling at the Railway Inn, on which rail tickets are valid. The local vicar has introduced prayer and pint evenings on Thursdays alternating between the Railway at Norton Bridge and the Holly Bush at Seighford." Closed by owner in 2016 as several successive tenants were unable to make a success of the pub. He was hoping to sell the site for development but this has not happened by March 2018