Thursday, April 21, 2011

Shippea Hill railway station


Shippea Hill railway station

Ship pea Hill is a railway station in the county of Cambridge shire, England. It was opened in 1845 as Milden hall Road. In 1885, its name was changed to Burnt Fen, and finally in about 1904 to Ship pea Hill.[1]
Ship pea Hill is situated on the line between Ely and Norwich. According to 2003 Strategic Rail Authority figures, Ship pea Hill was (and remains) one of the least-used railway stations in Great Britain with at one point just eleven passengers a year.[2] Passenger figures saw an increase on the 2004–05 report with 37 tickets being sold that either originated or exited the network at Ship pea Hill. A surprising rally saw passenger usage increase seventy fold in 2007-2008 from the low of 2004.
Situated some distance away from any substantial settlement (although not many miles from Milden hall) in a totally flat fen landscape, Ship pea Hill in fact has no hill.
Despite not being within walking distance of any large settlement, most of the station's car park was closed and sold off after the Privatization of British Rail.
The level crossing adjacent to Ship pea Hill Railway Station is not automated; the gates are opened and closed manually by Network Rail staff.