The Cambridgeshire town that went from having three railway stations to none
Cambridge[1] will be getting its third railway station in the next two years, with Cambridge South due to open in 2025. However, while there has been an increase in stations in the city over the years, another area of the county has seen its number drop to zero.
Wisbech[2] used to have two railway stations: Wisbech North and Wisbech East, as well as a tramway that linked the town to Upwell in Norfolk. All of these closed down in the 1960s and the town has been left without a station ever since.
It is one of the largest towns in England without a rail link, although plans have been put forward to reopen the Wisbech to March line. The Wisbech Rail project recently had £310,000 in funding approved to look at the different options for the route.
With the possibility of a new railway line in Wisbech on the horizon, here is a look back on the demise of the town’s previous stations.
Wisbech North
Wisbech North railways station was part of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway. It was on Harecroft Road and was also a stop on the line between Sutton Bridge and Peterborough[5].
It initially opened in 1866 as ‘Wisbeach’, before being renamed Wisbech in 1877, and Wisbech North in 1948. It closed for passengers in 1959 and for freight in 1964, with the area now occupied by a private housing estate.
Wisbech East
Wisbech Station in the 60s (Image: Public Domain)
Wisbech East opened to passengers in 1848 and provided links to March, Watlington, and St Ives. It was part of the Great Eastern Railway network.
Two temporary structures were combined under one company in 1851 when two companies handed over operation to the Eastern Counties Railway. The station was closed in 1968, with the site being entirely re-developed into housing.
Wisbech and Upwell Tramway
Although called a tramway, the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway closely resembled a conventional railway line. The route was close to farms and villages, allowing goods to be shipped to Wisbech, transferred to the main line, and carried to destinations further afield.
The first part of the tramway opened in 1883 after new sidings and a brick engine shed were built for trams that travelled from Wisbech station (later Wisbech North). The station consisted of an engine shed and a turntable.
Only the turntable remained by 1925 when the London and North Eastern Railway took over responsibility for the line. The tramway closed in 1966, long after passenger services were discontinued in 1927.
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References
- ^ Cambridge (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ Wisbech (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ Cambridge City Council looks to set aside £20million for ‘major regeneration’ of city centre (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ Vehicle churns up Cambs football pitch in ‘heart-breaking’ act of vandalism (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ Peterborough (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ You can also sign up to our dedicated Peterborough, Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in. (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)