West Bridge Station

A city park, built on one of the first railways in the world

The Rally Park has been created on what was the southernmost part of the Leicester & Swannington Railway, designed to bring coal from the North West Leicestershire coalfields into Leicester. It was one of the first railways to be built in the world. Opening in 1832, it was engineered by Robert Stephenson, son of the famous railway pioneer George Stephenson. Its route was northwards through the mile long tunnel at Glenfield, to Desford, Bagworth, Long Lane (Coalville) and Swannington.

West Bridge Station

The original railway buildings were a wharf shed, joiner’s shop, company office, engine shed, workshop and smithy. The railway was originally intended for coal so carrying passengers was not a priority. For many years local inns and tiny cabins served as booking offices and passenger carriages were attached to goods trains. It was not until 1840 that alterations were made to the office building to provide ‘some accommodation’ for passengers. There was no platform at the original station and passengers had to climb aboard using steps and handrails attached to carriages. A narrow passenger platform was eventually created in 1876. By 1893 a new purpose built station had been constructed next to Tudor Road.

The first West Bridge Station with narrow platform, Mary De Castro Church spire is in the background

The end of the line

The passenger service ended in 1928 although coal and oil traffic continued until 1966. The track was removed and the station buildings demolished in 1979. A short length of platform was rebuilt on the site of the second passenger station (of 1893) with some track and a signal. The line of the railway is now a mile-long public footpath towards Glenfield tunnel.