Blackburn was one of Lancashire’s original cotton towns. In 1880 it had a population of over 100,000. Just over a hundred years previously it stood at 5,000 and the huge rise is down to the growth of the cotton trade. Blackburn sits in the valley of the River Blakewater. The town was built where the Roman military road from Manchester to Ribchester crossed the river. In the doomsday book the town is called Blachebourne. The Railway station recently rebuilt is a major junction station for East Lancashire’s community railways. It is a manned station complete with a booking office and there is a cafe in the main station entrance area.

The station frontage with the old station clock surrounded by ornate stonework survived the redevelopment and is worthy of note. Blackburn’s town centre, currently being redeveloped, boasts a good mix of retail outlets and its market is very popular. There are several buildings of note including the Town Hall and parts of Richmond Terrace. The museum highlights the history of the town and Corporation Park stands close to the town centre. Blackburn Cathedral with its famous lantern tower is situated close to the railway station and well worth a visit. Blackburn’s Visitor Centre is also close to the railway station and all manner of information regarding the town and its surrounding areas can be obtained. The visitor centre also has a café called Rhubarb where you can relax and enjoy a drink and some food.

Address

Blackburn Station
Railway Road
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB1 1EY

Grid Reference

SD 684279 – for a map visit www.streetmap.co.uk and enter the grid reference.

Operator

Northern Rail Ltd.

Timetable

Manchester to Blackburn and Clitheroe
Colne to Preston and Blackpool South
York to Blackpool

Train Tracker

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Live Departures

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Facilities

• Manned station (platform staff from first to last train – booking office open Mon to Sat 06.40 – 19.15, Sun 09.10 – 16.40 providing national rail information and tickets and other public transport information)
• Hourly services to Clitheroe and Manchester Victoria (1/2 hourly in peak), Colne and Blackpool South & York and Blackpool North
• DalesRail service on summer Sundays – click here for details
• Car park (at rear of station 80 spaces including disabled)
• Waiting Room on platform 1 & 2, shelters on platform 4
• Additional seating on platforms
• Secure cycle storage (keys from Customer Service office)
• Cycle hoops
• Customer Information Screens
• Public Address system
• CCTV

To see National Rail’s new station facilities page for this station click here.

Other Information

• Bus station immediately across road at front of station – click here for bus timetables
• Rail User Group – Ribble Valley Rail
• Friends of Stations group – RVR (contact Brian Haworth on 01772 533196)
• Blackburn Cathedral is a 5 minute walk from the station – click here for more detail
• Blackburn Visitor Centre is also a 5 min walk from the station – click here for more information
• The museum is a 15 minute walk from the station and more information can be found by clicking here
• The Leeds Liverpool canal runs through Blackburn and access can be gained close to the station – more information can be found by clicking here. The canal is the starting point for an historical cycle ride which also takes in the disused railway around Great Harwood – download the PDF by clicking here.

Weather for this station

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