Street entrance to the station from the A6010 Pottery Lane
It was built and opened by the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway on its line from Manchester Store Street station to Sheffield, in 1855. First appearing in Bradshaw's Guide in July, in November it was referred to as Ashburys for Openshaw, then in August 1856, as Ashburys for Belle Vue.
East of the station, towards Gorton and Belle Vue,[1] there were two engine sheds.[2] The larger was the GCR's Gorton loco shed (1879-1965)[3] and the smaller, the Midland Railway's Belle Vue loco shed (1870-1956).[4] The Gorton shed had a ferro-concrete coaling tower.[5]
The line was electrified at 25 kV AC on 10 December 1984, replacing the 1500 V DC electrification inaugurated on 14 June 1954 by British Railways as part of the Manchester-Sheffield-Wath scheme via the Woodhead Tunnel.[8] There was also a signal box here, which controlled the junctions and various sidings. The signal box, opened in 1906 by the Great Central Railway, closed in 2011, when control was transferred to the Manchester East signalling control centre.[9][10] The new WCML North Rail Operating Centre is located a short distance east of the station, next to the line to Guide Bridge. This opened in 2014 (one of 11 such centres either built or being planned in the UK) and will eventually control signalling across most of the routes across the North West England, including the northern end of the West Coast Main Line and the entire Manchester area network.[11]
Future
Under the Greater Manchester TIF programme, Ashburys would have received improvements. However, despite TIF not going ahead, it is still to receive safety, security and passenger information improvements, when funding can be obtained.
Other long term proposals include the Manchester - Marple Tram Train scheme, which was on a 'reserve list' of TIF schemes. Significant new infrastructure works would be required between Piccadilly and Ashburys station, known as 'Piccadilly Link'. It would be incorporated within a major mixed-use development by Grangefield Estates, known as 'Chancellor Place', around the former Mayfield Station site.
Facilities
The station is unstaffed and has no permanent buildings (other than standard waiting shelters) or ticket provision, so all tickets must be bought on the train or prior to travel. Train running information is provided by digital display screens and timetable posters. No step-free access is available, as the station is above street level and the only access offered is via staircase and footbridge.[12] This is the nearest station to Manchester City's stadium City of Manchester Stadium as it is a 15-20 minute walk.
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