Wakefield line

{{Short description|Railway from Leeds to Sheffield}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rail line |name = Wakefield line |color = {{WYM color|Wakefield}} |logo = |logo_width = |image = 331028 approaching Adwick le Street.jpg |image_width = 280px |caption = A Northern electric service from Leeds to Doncaster at Adwick |type = |system = |status = |locale = {{ubl|West Yorkshire|South Yorkshire}} |start = {{rws|Leeds}} |end = {{stn|Sheffield}} |stations = |routes = |open = |close = |owner = Network Rail |operator = |depot = |stock = |linelength = |tracklength = |gauge = {{RailGauge|uksg|allk=on}} |speed = |elevation = |map = 280px<br />(Click to expand) |map_state = expanded }} {{Wakefield Line|collapse=y}} {{Wakefield Lines}} The '''Wakefield line''' is a railway line and service in the West Yorkshire Metro and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive areas of northern England. The Wakefield line is coloured yellow on maps and publications by West Yorkshire Metro.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rail network map Metro|url=http://wymetro.com/traintravel/InteractiveMap/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416062455/http://www.wymetro.com/traintravel/interactivemap/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2013|website=wymetro.com|access-date=18 January 2016}}</ref> The line was electrified in 1989, between Leeds & Wakefield Westgate, as part of the programme to electrify the East Coast Main Line.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leeds West|url=http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/leeds%20west.htm|website=www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk|access-date=18 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Intercity 225: Fastest in the fleet|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/976815.stm|access-date=18 January 2016|work=BBC|date=17 October 2000}}</ref>

The service connects Leeds and Wakefield with Sheffield and Doncaster with the section of the line between Leeds and Doncaster forming part of the East Coast Main Line.<ref>{{cite web|title=Moving ahead – Route Plan G East Coast|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/RoutePlans/PDF/RouteG-EastCoastandNorthEast.pdf|website=Network Rail|publisher=NR|access-date=18 January 2016|page=4|date=2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926131729/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/RoutePlans/PDF/RouteG-EastCoastandNorthEast.pdf|archive-date=26 September 2012}}</ref> The local stopping service is operated by Northern with services between Leeds, Wakefield and either Doncaster or Sheffield. Inter-city operators are London North Eastern Railway, East Midlands Railway and CrossCountry who provide services from Leeds to London and the South of England.

Some sections of the line are shared with the Huddersfield (orange) and Pontefract lines (light blue).

West Yorkshire "Metrocards" are available for all trains as far as {{rws|South Elmsall}} on the Doncaster section of the line and to {{rws|Moorthorpe}} on the Sheffield section.<ref>{{cite web|title=MetroCard – bus travel with rail zones 2–5|url=http://www.wymetro.com/TicketsAndPasses/MetroCards/BusZones2-5/|website=www.wymetro.com|access-date=18 January 2016}}</ref>

==Pre-nationalisation ownership== At the time of the 1923 Grouping the line was owned by different railway companies: * '''Leeds Central–Wakefield''' Great Northern Railway (GNR) – with {{rws|Wakefield Westgate}} station being jointly owned by the GNR and Great Central Railways (GCR). * '''Wakefield–Doncaster''' West Riding and Grimsby Joint Railway (WRGJt) itself being of joint Great Northern Railway and Great Central Railway ownership. * '''Moorthorpe–Swinton''' Swinton & Knottingley Joint Railway itself being of joint Midland Railway (MidR) and North Eastern Railway (NER) ownership. * '''Swinton–Sheffield''' Midland Railway (MidR)

==The route== Trains on the line serve the following places; however, some stations have closed:

===Leeds City–Fitzwilliam===

* {{rws|Beeston|West Yorkshire}} (closed)

''Ardsley Tunnel'' * {{rws|Ardsley}} (closed) * '''{{rws|Outwood}}''' (formerly known as Lofthouse and Outwood)

At Outwood there were junctions with two joint undertakings; East & West Yorkshire Union (a short line connecting the Great Northern / Midland Railway main lines via Rothwell and Methley Joint Railway (owners being Great Northern, Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and North Eastern Railway) connecting to various lines in the Castleford area.

''Wrenthorpe Junction''

From this junction was a line to Dewsbury which was partially closed in 1963 and complete closure came in 1965 – some artefacts still remain to this day.

* '''{{rws|Wakefield Westgate}} ''' ''Ninety–Nine Arches Viaduct'' * '''{{rws|Sandal and Agbrigg}}''' (originally 'Sandal', closed 1957; reopened 1987 by British Rail with new name) * {{rws|Hare Park & Crofton}} (closed) ''Nostell North & South Junctions with Great Central Railway'' * Nostell (closed) * '''{{rws|Fitzwilliam}}''' (replaced an earlier station of the same name a short distance away) * Hemsworth (closed) ''Junction with the Hull and Barnsley Railway (HBR)''

''Junction with Sheffield branch to the south''

===Fitzwilliam–Doncaster=== * '''South Elmsall''' * {{rws|Hampole}} (closed) * '''Adwick''' (originally 'Carcroft & Adwick-le-Street' station, closed 1967; reopened by British Rail a short distance away with new name in 1993) * '''{{rws|Bentley|South Yorkshire}}''' * '''{{rws|Doncaster}}'''

===Fitzwilliam–Swinton=== Part of this section is also worked as the Dearne Valley line: * '''{{rws|Moorthorpe}}''' * {{rws|Frickley}} (closed) ''Branch line to Frickley Colliery'' * '''{{rws|Thurnscoe}}''' ''Hickleton Junction for the Dearne Valley Railway'' ''(worked by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway)'' * '''{{rws|Goldthorpe}}''' * '''{{rws|Bolton-on-Dearne}}''' ''Junction with the Great Central Railway Penistone–Doncaster line.'' * '''{{rws|Swinton|South Yorkshire}}'''

===Swinton–Sheffield=== From Swinton towards Sheffield, the Midland Railway and Great Central had parallel lines following the course of the River Don. The lines of the competing companies were so close that in 1965 British Railways built a new junction complex at Aldwarke and the current Wakefield Line now follows the former Great Central line to reach the reopened {{stn|Rotherham Central}}. Intermediate stations were to be found at: * {{rws|Parkgate and Aldwarke}} (closed) * {{rws|Rotherham Road}} (closed) * '''{{stn|Rotherham Central}}''' ''Taking a new curve, the line joins the Sheffield and Rotherham Railway.'' * '''Meadowhall'''(opened 1990; replaced {{rws|Wincobank}} which closed in 1956 which was on same site) * {{rws|Brightside}} (closed) ''Grimesthorpe Junction the line leaves the Sheffield & Rotherham and takes the Midland Railway line built in 1870. '' *{{rws|Attercliffe Road}} (closed) * '''{{stn|Sheffield}}'''

;Route maps of the route 1910–1913 <gallery> File:Leeds RJD 40.jpg|Railway lines in Leeds in 1913 File:Cutsyke, Crofton, Normanton, Altofts, Methley, Lofthouse, Oakenshaw & Wakefield RJD 52.jpg|The route via Ardsley and Lofthouse through Wakefield in 1912 File:Bierley, Cudworth, Monk Bretton, Nostell, Shafton & Stairfoot RJD 109.jpg|Railway lines around Nostell in 1911 File:Hemsworth- Hickleton South- Mexboro'- Moorhouse- South Elmsall- South Kirkby- Swinton- Wath- ath Road & Lowfield RJD 44.jpg|Railway lines around Hemsworth and South Emsall; Moorthorpe, Hickleton, Bolton-upon-Dearne, and Swinton in 1910 File:Applehurst, Askern, Doncaster, Kirk Sandall, Shaftholme, Stainforth & Thorne RJD 23.jpg|Railway lines around Doncaster in 1914 File:Brightside, Shefield & Blackburn Valley Treeton RJD 67.jpg|Railway lines in Sheffield in 1912 </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Rail transport in West Yorkshire Category:Rail transport in South Yorkshire Category:Rail transport in Sheffield Category:Transport in Leeds Category:Railway lines in Yorkshire and the Humber Category:Transport in the City of Wakefield