Barrow-in-Furness railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barrow-in-Furness
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The station viewed from Abbey Road
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| Location | Barrow-in-Furness, Barrow-in-Furness England |
| Coordinates | 54°07′08″N 3°13′34″W / 54.119°N 3.226°W |
| Platforms | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Station code | BIF |
| Classification | DfT category D |
| Traffic | |
| Passengers (2015/16) |  0.631 million |
| Passengers (2016/17) |  0.653 million |
| Passengers (2017/18) | 0.652 million |
| Passengers (2018/19) | 0.626 million |
| Passengers (2019/20) | 0.687 million |
| Location | |
 Barrow-in-Furness
Location in the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness
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Barrow-in-Furness railway station is a busy train station in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. It's a key hub for train travel in the area. This station is where the Furness Line ends, connecting to places like Lancaster. It's also the start of the Cumbrian Coast Line, which goes all the way to Carlisle. Both of these lines link up with the main West Coast Main Line, a big railway route across the country. The station is owned by Network Rail and run by Northern, which operates all the passenger trains here.
Contents
Train Services from Barrow
Northern is the train company that runs services from Barrow-in-Furness. You can catch trains heading in two main directions: north and south.
Northbound Journeys
Trains heading north run from Monday to Saturday. They usually leave about once an hour during the day. These trains go to places like Whitehaven and Carlisle. There's also one special train each day that goes to Sellafield. This train is mainly for people who work at the Sellafield nuclear plant. In the evenings, some trains only go as far as Millom. Many of these northbound trains also continue their journey along the Furness Line to Lancaster and Preston.
Southbound Journeys
If you're heading south, you'll find trains going to Lancaster. Some of these trains even continue to Preston. There are also a few faster trains that go directly to Manchester Airport. These trains generally run about once an hour throughout the week, including Sundays. There might be a few extra trains during busy times.
Recent Service Improvements
In May 2018, Northern made some great improvements to their train services. They added more trains in the evenings and on Sundays for the line to Whitehaven and Carlisle. There are also plans to add even more trains to and from Preston and Manchester Airport in the future.
Station Layout and Facilities
Barrow-in-Furness station has three platforms where trains arrive and depart. Each platform serves different routes and has various facilities for passengers.
Platform 1
Platform 1 is where you'll find the main entrance to the station. This platform is mostly used for trains heading north. These are often trains that have come from Lancaster or Preston and are continuing to Carlisle. It's also used for trains arriving from or heading to Preston and Manchester Airport. On Platform 1, you'll find a comfortable waiting area, the ticket office where you can buy tickets, and an information office if you need help. There are also toilets and a cafe called Cafexpress. All these areas have been recently updated. You might even spot some local artwork on this platform!
Platform 2
Platform 2 is mainly used for Northern trains heading south. These trains usually go to Lancaster or Preston. It's also where local trains arriving from Millom or Sellafield will stop.
Platform 3
Platform 3 is a special type of platform called a "bay platform." This means trains can only enter and leave from one end. It's used several times a day for trains heading north to Millom and Carlisle.
Waiting Areas and Staff
Between Platforms 2 and 3, there's an indoor waiting area. Here, you can see live updates on train departures and use a vending machine for snacks or drinks. You'll also find printed timetables around the platforms. The other buildings at the station are used as offices for train staff and the British Transport Police, who help keep everyone safe. The station also has a depot for Northern train crews and some sidings (extra tracks) where empty trains are stored and serviced.
Station Upgrades
The station has recently had some great renovations to make it better for passengers. Many of the old seats and waiting areas have been replaced with new ones. The automatic doors at the station entrance have also been updated. To make things easier and safer, new electronic information signs have been installed, along with improved CCTV cameras. Ramps have been added to help people access the platforms more easily. Work is still ongoing to improve access to Platforms 2 and 3, which used to be harder to reach. Even the station restaurant is getting an upgrade!
Barrow Station in Stories
Did you know Barrow-in-Furness station appears in famous children's books? In The Railway Series by the Rev. W Awdry, and the TV show Thomas & Friends, Barrow Central is the main station on the mainland. It's where the Fat Controller's North Western Railway connects to the fictional Island of Sodor by a bridge to a place called Vicarstown.
Gallery
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The station as it appeared between 1882 and 1941
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The station immediately after World War II Luftwaffe bombing
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The station in 1966
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View towards Carlisle, June 1976
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Looking along Platform 1 towards the bridge under Abbey Road
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Main entrance to the station in October 2010
- Train times and station information for Barrow-in-Furness railway station from National Rail
| Preceding station |  National Rail |
Following station | ||
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| Terminus | Northern Trains
Furness Line
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Roose
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Askam
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Northern Trains
Cumbrian Coast Line
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Terminus | ||
| {{{previous}}} | {{{route1}}} | Roose (limited service) |
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| {{{route2}}} | Ulverston | |||
| Historical railways | ||||
| Island Road Line and station closed |
Furness Railway | Roose Line and station open |
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