Walsall Station - A Walsall & West Midlands Gem!

There has been a railway station in Walsall since at least 1837. The current station building mostly dates to the 1960s when the line was electrified from Birmingham New Street.


Where is Walsall Station?

Walsall Station is at the Saddlers Centre, Walsall, West Midlands, WS2 9JS

In brief

Back in 1837, the Grand Junction Railway provided Walsall with it's first indirect railway station. But a permanent station was not built on the present site until 1849. The station was rebuilt in 1883. Then a fire damaged the booking hall in 1916 during WW1. The new booking hall was completed and opened in 1923. The line from Birmingham was electrfied in 1966, then towards Rugeley Trent Valley in 2019. Currently there is a line to Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street, and another line from Rugeley Trent Valley.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Walsall Station - history and details

There is three platforms at Walsall, platforms 1 and 2 the through platforms between Rugeley Trent Valley and Birmingham New Street. Platform 3 was the terminating platform from Birmingham New Street.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (April 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Walsall has a history going back to 1837 when the Grand Junction Railway built a nearby station at Bescot (now Bescot Stadium) but the current station in the town centre, was opened in 1849 by the South Staffordshire Railway.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (April 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The station was rebuilt in 1883 and again in 1923 (after a fire in 1916 during WW1).

Walsall StationWalsall Station (April 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The station was rebuilt in the 1960s when the line from Birmingham New Street was electrified.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (April 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The line to Hednesford was reopened in 1989 (after it was withdrawn 24 years earlier) and to Rugeley by 1997. But only diesel trains could go between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley until the Chase Line was electrified between 2017 and 2019.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (April 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

In the subway / bridge towards platforms 2 and 3, is some word sculptures, called 'Nonsense Poem Carving'. They were made in 1995. Designed by Matthew and Bryant Fedden.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (March 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

You can see them if you head towards platforms 2 and 3, before going down the steps.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (March 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The electrification works were taking place at Walsall Station in 2018, all the way up the Chase Line to Rugeley Trent Valley.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (March 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Before 2017, only platform 3 was electrified, so work needing doing at platforms 1 and 2, to enable electric trains to go between Birmingham New Street and Rugeley Trent Valley.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (March 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

There is provision at the station with a large bike rack. It is close to the fence on Station Street, on platform 1.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (March 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

West Midlands Railway took over the station at the end of 2017, by 2021 they had replaced all of the stations signs.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Including on the ticket office building, the station also has a ticket machine, in the subway to the shopping centre.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

During the pandemic, there was Safe Safe markings inside the subway / bridge.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

All new West Midlands Railway signs on all three platforms, lampposts now painted orange.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Trains

London Midland 170508 arrives at platform 2 at Walsall, from Rugeley Trent Valley for a service to Birmingham New Street during April 2014. Since electrification was completed in 2019, these trains have been replaced with Class 350's from West Midlands Railway (using London Northwestern Railway trains).

Walsall StationWalsall Station (April 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

At platform 3 during December 2016 was London Midland 323201 for a service to Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (December 2016). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

West Midlands Railway 350 106 at Walsall Station during March 2018, seen at platform 3, this was before electrification to Rugeley Trent Valley was completed.

Walsall StationWalsall Station (March 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

Project dates

22 Mar 2023 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Transport, Travel & tourism

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com