Davenport Railway Station
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Welcome to Davenport

This site is for users of Davenport railway station, Stockport, England - and for all the people of Davenport.  Our aim is to have plenty of useful information for users of the station, and act as a forum for contributions and suggestions.

Please note that this site is unofficial and is not connected with Northern Rail or any rail company. Information here is presented in good faith, but we cannot be responsible if your train (or bus) does not arrive when expected.

For more information, contributions to the site, suggested web links, and any other comments and questions, please email info@
davenportstation.org.uk

Visitors in 2008:3395
Visitors in 2009:4210


Created and compiled by Charlie Hulme.


Station gets a new look

Work is under way to repaint the painted parts of the station in a new scheme featuring blue in place of the previous red. Some have expressed concerns that this not a traditional colour, but at least it is good to see the place being cared for.

The return of the footbridge, removed for 'refurbishment' on 21 March, supposedly for ten weeks, is still awaited.

27 July 2010


Co-op alterations

The large Co-operative store in Hazel Grove will be closed from August to Octoberfor refurbishment, and while it is closed, a new direct road entrance to the car park from the A6 will be opened up, replacing the current endtrance on Brewers Green. Details of the project can be found on the A6 Highways website.

Elsewhere, the Co-op store in the centre of Stockport, which has been in business for many years, and recently traded under the name 'Westgate' is to close early in 2011, the building having been sold to Primark.

27 July 2010


Class 180s to remain with Northern?


The three 5-coach Class 180 inter-city style trains which have recently been in use by Northern Rail were due to be transferred to the East Coast Main Line at the end of 2010, for use on a new service between Lojdon Kings Cross and Lincoln. However, this plan has now been cancelled as a money-saving measure; it would seem there is a chance that Northern will be able to retain their 180s for a while longer.

To travel in style to Manchester and beyond, be sure to catch the 09:37 or 16:35 from Davenport, and the return train from Preston which calls at Deansgate 15:12, Oxford Road 15:16 and Piccadilly 15:21.
27 July 2010


The Cotton Mill Express is back


'From the Railway Touring Company: 'It's back! Our special Cotton Mill Express train, recalling the great textile heritage around Manchester, returns on Saturday 17 July by popular demand to provide another wonderful day out. The tour has been extended to start and finish in Lancaster and also serves Preston and Wigan North Western. We pick up the old route at Manchester Victoria.

'The Railway Touring Company is offering £5pp discount when you quote CMM on this exciting day excursion. For more information or to book visit our website at www.railwaytouring.co.uk or contact us on 01553 661500.'

Expected locomotive for the tour is steam 4-6-0 6115 Scots Guardsman; Manchester passengers board at approx. 10:00 or 14:43 and return at about 17:30. Fares start at £60 for adults.
- 8 July 2010


Cale Green Park Fun Day, Sunday 4 July


The Crazy Tramps trampoline act, plus Tea, Coffee & Homemade Cakes are back at the Cale Green Park Fun Day, on Sunday 4 July from 1 pm to 5 pm!

There's also Face Painting, Craft Stalls, Line Dancing, Raffle, Children’s Fancy Dress Competition (judging at 3.45 pm), and music from Annie's Saints & Sinners Jazz Band.

The event, which is Sponsored by Cale Green Park Residents’ Association and the Community Foundation for Greater Manchester (Grassroots Fund) is free to enter. Cale Green Park is opposite Davenport station.

New Timetable from 23 May

There is a change of timetable from 23 May, but the times for the Davenport line show little change. (The new booklet can be downloaded from the Northern Rail website.) Sadly, the same faults are still apparent: notably the lack of direct trains from Manchester Oxford Road on weekday evenings, with a two-hour gap on Mondays to Fridays from 16:16 to the 18:16 which is the last through train from Oxford Road, the most convenient station for theatres, etc., and the irritating breaks in the rhythm of departures to Manchester shown by the 14:05 and 16:35 trains to Manchester departing two or three minutes earlier than the normal time on weekdays. And as before, all trains (except perhaps one?) are formed of diesel units even though the line to Hazel Grove is electrified. One of our councillors is Stockport's member of the Intergated Transport Authority, maybe he will be able to raise these matters in the appropriate quarter?


100 Years of Princess Road bus depot

A new book, produced to celebrate the 100th year of the Princess Road depot, is a stunning pictorial history of local transport, compiled from images supplied by people from across the region. It traces the history of the last century of transport around Manchester, and how the region has evolved.

Created with submissions from local people following an appeal in the local press in 2009 it tells a pictorial story of how the depot and the vehicles it has housed over the past century, alongside real photos from real people who have contributed to transport over the years. Contributors include Hazel Grove resident, Edna Power, who donated a photo of her father, Manchester Corporation Transport Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Robert John Maun, aboard tram number 1007. The photograph was taken as Manchester’s last tram was arriving at Hyde Road depot, before being burned.

Eric Herbert of Urmston donated a photo of his mother alongside a team of cleaners who kept public transport in pristine condition, and played a huge part in maintaining a sense of normality throughout the ‘Manchester blitz’.

All proceeds from the book will be donated to Stagecoach Manchester’s nominated charity, Moss Side-based Manchester Young Lives.  This organisation offers youth work, educational and training programmes to children and young people in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Manchester. The book is on sale now, price £7, from outlets including the Ian Allan Bookshop, 5 Piccadilly Station Approach, Manchester. More information on the Stagecoach website.
19 May 2010


Northern Rail franchise extended

Amid all the election hoo-hah, Rail News is reporting that Northern Rail (which is a consortium of Serco and the Netherlands State Railway) has won a two-year extension to their franchise to run trains in our area, which will now continue until September 2011. Apparently "Northern has improved the punctuality of its train services from 83.7% in the 12 months to December 2004 to 91.6% in the last 12 months, meaning that on average 200 more trains arrive on time every day now than in 2004."
13 May 2010

Freight through Davenport


Freight trains are not common through Davenport, but here's a load of stone diverted our way on 10 April while the line through Bredbury was closed for engineering work.

Grand National Special

Saturday 10 April is 'Grand National' day, and as last year, East Midlands Trains will be running one of their 'Merdian' Inter-City trains on the Nottingham - Liverpool route to handle the extra passengers.
The train will work the 08:45 Nottingham - Liverpool (calls Stockport 10:25), 11:52 Liverpool - Nottingham (calls Stockport 12:54), 14:45 Nottingham - Liverpool  (calls Stockport 16:25) and 17:52 Liverpool - Nottingham (calls Stockport 18:54).
9 April
Sunday 4 April: Trains are replaced by buses between Stockport and Manchester due to engineering work. Trains towards Buxton will depart Davenport approximately 20 minutes later than normal. Northern Rail have a PDF Timetable for 4 April.

Super-council?

A very strange news item in the Stockport Express. Extract:

A transport revolution is on the cards following Stockport’s decision to vote ‘yes’ to the Manchester ‘super-council’. In an exclusive interview with the Express, Councillor Goddard revealed he expects a united Manchester to kick-start both Stockport’s regeneration and its transport links with a major cash injection.

Coun Goddard said: "They have agreed Stockport is a special case and there should be a committee looking at its specific transport problems," he said. "Stockport has historically not received the benefits but now I have negotiated that there will be a high level officer group that looks at this – that’s new and has come out of this." Likely improvements will include new railway stations at Cheadle and Gatley, more trains between Stockport and Manchester, and electric railway lines to Hazel Grove.

Is the reporter confused, or doesn't Cllr Goddard know the Hazel Grove line is already electrified, even though Northern Rail choose not to run any electric trains on it? Who knows? What makes them think there can be more trains between Stockport and Manchester, when the line is already said to be so congested that some trains from Chester have to turn terminate at Stockport?
2 April

Those viaduct fences

We are told that the fences on the end of the platforms at Stockport, illustrated here recently, have been erected to stop suicidal people walking on to the viaduct with a view to jumping off. Sad.
2 April

The Western Rocks, 20 March




Richard Putley has kindly sent these pictures of the railtour to Buxton hauled by D1015 Western Champion on 20 March. The train stopped at Denton (above) for the passengers to take pictures at this station which normally only sees one train a week.



After passing through Davenport, the train reached Buxton (above) before returning via Peak Forest and the Hope Valley line.

Speaking of special trains, locally-based charter train organisers Retro Railtours are running an excursion from Stockport to Edinburgh on 31 May, with adult fares from just £49.50. The train will be hauled by celebrity 'Deltic' locomotive 55 022 Royal Scots Grey. Details and online booking at www.retrorailtours.co.uk

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