Derby railway station facts for kids

Derby railway station

Derby railway station, also known as Derby Midland, is a very important train station in the city of Derby, England. It's like a busy hub where many trains arrive and depart every day. The station is owned by Network Rail, which looks after most of the railway lines in Britain. It is managed by East Midlands Trains, one of the main train companies. You can also catch trains from CrossCountry and sometimes a Northern train here.

Derby station is located about 127 miles (204 km) (that's about 204 kilometers) north of London St Pancras station. It's found just south-east of Derby city centre, right next to the River Derwent.

A Busy Hub for Trains

Derby railway station is a key stop for many train journeys. It connects Derby to lots of other cities across England. People use it to travel for work, school, holidays, and to visit friends and family.

Who Uses the Station?

• East Midlands Trains: These trains connect Derby to places like London, Sheffield, and Nottingham.
• CrossCountry: These trains travel even further, connecting Derby to cities all over the country, from Scotland down to the south coast of England.
• Northern: Sometimes, you might see a Northern train, usually connecting to places closer by.

History of Derby Station

Derby has a long and interesting history with trains! The first station opened way back in 1840. This was a very exciting time when railways were new and changing how people traveled and traded.

Why Derby was Important for Railways

Derby became a major railway town because it was a central point for several early railway companies. These companies included the North Midland Railway, the Midland Counties Railway, and the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway. They all met in Derby, making it a natural place for a big station and even train factories.

Building the Station

The original station was designed by a famous engineer named Francis Thompson. It was quite grand for its time. Over the years, the station has been rebuilt and updated to handle more trains and passengers. The Victorian front of the station, which you can still see today, was designed by Charles Trubshaw. It shows how important the railways were in the past.

Derby's Railway Legacy

Because of its strong railway history, Derby was once home to the headquarters of the Midland Railway, a very large and important train company. Many people in Derby worked for the railways, building trains and maintaining the tracks. Even today, the city has strong links to the railway industry.

Images for kids

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  Derby Station North Midland Railway

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  Sketch diagram showing platform arrangement when first opened

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  The Midland Railway's coat of arms at the station's entrance

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  The Victorian frontage to the station by Charles Trubshaw.

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  From the Illustrated London News 30 May 1891

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  The Victorian station clock, now in the car park

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  The station's departures board.

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  A map of East Midlands Railway's InterCity and Connect services showing the current service pattern each hour