Seaham railway station

Coordinates: 54°50′21″N 1°20′47″W / 54.8390910°N 1.3463780°W / 54.8390910; -1.3463780
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Seaham
National Rail
General information
LocationSeaham, County Durham
England
Coordinates54°50′21″N 1°20′47″W / 54.8390910°N 1.3463780°W / 54.8390910; -1.3463780
Grid referenceNZ420495
Owned byNetwork Rail
Managed byNorthern Trains
Platforms2
Tracks2
Other information
Station codeSEA
ClassificationDfT category F1
History
Original companyLondonderry, Seaham and Sunderland Railway
Pre-groupingNorth Eastern Railway
Post-grouping
Key dates
2 July 1855Opened as Seaham Colliery
1 March 1925Renamed Seaham
Passengers
2018/19Decrease 137,652
2019/20Increase 138,938
2020/21Decrease 35,228
2021/22Increase 103,874
2022/23Increase 110,570
Services
Preceding station Northern Following station
Horden Durham Coast Line Sunderland
towards Newcastle
Location
Seaham is located in County Durham
Seaham
Seaham
Location in County Durham, England
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Seaham is a railway station on the Durham Coast Line, which runs between Newcastle and Middlesbrough via Hartlepool. The station, situated 5 miles 11 chains (8.3 km) south-east of Sunderland, serves the seaside town of Seaham in County Durham, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.

History[edit]

The first railway route into the town, the Seaham and Sunderland Railway, was built as a means of exporting coal from nearby collieries owned by the Marquess of Londonderry. It opened in 1854, and ran from Seaham Harbour to Ryhope Grange, near Sunderland, where it joined with the North Eastern Railway.

The station was opened to passengers by the Londonderry, Seaham and Sunderland Railway on 2 July 1855, and was originally known as Seaham Colliery.[1]

In 1900, the North Eastern Railway purchased the line. To create a new coastal route between Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, the line was extended south along the coast, with the section between Seaham and to West Hartlepool opening on 1 April 1905.[2]

Upon the opening of the line, a new through station (current station) was constructed. On 1 March 1925, the (current) station was renamed from Seaham Colliery to Seaham.[1] On the same day, the nearby harbour station was renamed from Seaham to Seaham Harbour,[1] closing to passengers fourteen years later, on 11 September 1939.[2]

Facilities[edit]

The station facilities were improved during the 2010s to include fully lit waiting shelters and CCTV. The long-line Public Address system (PA) was renewed and upgraded with pre-recorded announcements.

The station is unstaffed, but a self-service ticket machine is provided on the northbound platform to allow passengers to buy tickets before boarding or to collect pre-paid tickets. Train running information is offered via timetable posters, digital CIS displays and automatic announcements. Step-free access is available to both platforms.[3]

Services[edit]

Northern Trains
Route 2
Durham Coast Line
Newcastle Parking Bicycle facilities Handicapped/disabled access Tyne and Wear Metro
Heworth Parking Bicycle facilities Tyne and Wear Metro
Sunderland Handicapped/disabled access Tyne and Wear Metro
Seaham Parking Bicycle facilities
Horden Parking Bicycle facilities Handicapped/disabled access
Hartlepool Parking Bicycle facilities
Seaton Carew Parking Bicycle facilities
Billingham Bicycle facilities
Stockton Bicycle facilities
Thornaby Parking Bicycle facilities
Middlesbrough Parking Bicycle facilities Handicapped/disabled access
Most services extend to/from
Hexham or Nunthorpe.

As of the May 2021 timetable change, the station is served by an hourly service between Newcastle and Middlesbrough. Most trains continue to Hexham (or Carlisle on Sunday) and Nunthorpe. Two trains per day (three on Sunday) continue to Whitby. All services are operated by Northern Trains.[4]

Rolling stock used: Class 156 Super Sprinter and Class 158 Express Sprinter

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Butt 1995, p. 207
  2. ^ a b Body 1988, p. 150
  3. ^ Seaham station facilitiesNational Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 3 February 2017
  4. ^ "Train times: Nunthorpe and Middlesbrough to Newcastle and Metrocentre" (PDF). Northern Trains. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.

Sources[edit]

  • Body, G. (1988). PSL Field Guides - Railways of the Eastern Region Volume 2. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-072-1.
  • Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 207. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.

External links[edit]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Horden   Northern Trains
Durham Coast Line
  Sunderland
  Historical railways  
Seaham Harbour
Line and station closed
  Londonderry, Seaham and Sunderland Railway   Seaham Hall Dene
(private station)
Line open; station closed
    Ryhope East
Line open; station closed
Hawthorn Tower Halt
(workmen's halt)
Line open; station closed
  London and North Eastern Railway
Durham Coast Line
  Ryhope East
Line open; station closed
Easington
Line open; station closed