Ravenglass railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ravenglass Ravenglass for Eskdale
Location	Ravenglass, Copeland England
Coordinates	54°21′20″N 3°24′32″W / 54.3556605°N 3.4088794°W / 54.3556605; -3.4088794
Owned by	Network Rail
Platforms	2
Tracks	2
Connections	Ravenglass (R&ER)
Other information
Station code	RAV
Classification	DfT category F2
History
Original company	Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway
Pre-grouping	Furness Railway
Post-grouping	London Midland and Scottish Railway British Rail (London Midland Region)
Key dates
19 July 1849	Opened
Traffic
Passengers (2018/19)	33,456
Passengers (2019/20)	42,802
Passengers (2020/21)	9,102
Passengers (2021/22)	29,470
Passengers (2022/23)	33,704
Location
Ravenglass Location in the Borough of Copeland Show map of the Borough of Copeland Ravenglass Location in Cumbria Show map of Cumbria

Ravenglass is a railway station in the village of Ravenglass, Cumbria, England. It is also known as Ravenglass for Eskdale. The station is on the Cumbrian Coast Line. This line connects Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness.

The station is owned by Network Rail. It is managed by Northern Trains. They run all the passenger trains here. Right next to it is the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. This is a special heritage railway with its own platforms and services. The car park separates these two parts of the station.

The station's name has changed a few times. It was first called Ravenglass. Then it became Ravenglass for Eskdale. In 1974, it went back to Ravenglass. Later, it was called Ravenglass for Eskdale again. Since 2018, timetables and tickets use "Ravenglass for Eskdale". However, the signs at the station still say "Ravenglass".

What is Ravenglass Station Like?

This station has two platforms for trains. One platform is for trains going towards Barrow-in-Furness. The other is for trains heading towards Carlisle. The main station buildings are now owned by the Eskdale Railway company. The main building is a pub called The Ratty Arms. An old shelter is now a museum. This means mainline travelers use small shelters.

The old signal box from the Furness Railway is still there. It was used until 1965. Now, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway has fixed it up. It is a working museum that you can visit.

Getting Around the Station

You can get to both platforms without using steps. Ramps lead to the northbound platform from the Village Car Park. You can also get there from The Ratty Arms pub. The southbound platform can be reached from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway car park.

There is a footbridge that connects to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway station. This bridge is at the south end of the northbound platform. To cross between the two main platforms, you can use the road bridge. This bridge is north of the station. Or, you can use the footbridge at the south end. This footbridge leads to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway car park.

You can find out about train times from posters. There are also information screens. You can also call for information. A ticket machine is available to buy tickets before you get on the train.

Train Services at Ravenglass

Trains usually run every hour in both directions. One train going north stops at Sellafield. It does not go all the way to Carlisle. You can buy tickets that let you travel on the Cumbrian Coast Line. These tickets also work for the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

More trains were added in May 2018. This included evening trains. It also brought the first Sunday service in over 40 years. These trains run roughly every hour. They operate from mid-morning until about 7:00 PM.

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (La'al Ratty)

The platforms at the adjacent Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway station.

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is also known as La'al Ratty. This name comes from a local Cumbrian dialect. It is a heritage railway. It offers trips on a narrow-gauge railway. This railway goes up the beautiful Eskdale valley.

The Ravenglass station is owned by this heritage line. It is across the car park from the main station. This is the main station for the "La'al Ratty". It has workshops, a place for engines, and a shed for carriages. There is also a paint shop and a signal box. For visitors, there is a museum, a café, a gift shop, and a ticket office. The station has a turntable and three platforms. However, only platforms 1 and 3 are used regularly.

This station opened in 1875. It has closed and reopened to passengers over the years. Its layout and design have changed many times. Today, it is the largest it has ever been.

Want to Learn More?

• Ravenglass (R&ER) – This is the heritage railway station next to the main one. It is part of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.