Low Level Station & carriage sheds, Wolverhampton, 1968
Its days numbered as a fully functioning railway station, Wolverhampton's Low Level railway station was at this time seeing increased traffic due to the electrification work that was in progress on the West Coast Main Line. This resulted in services being diverted away from Wolverhampton's High Level Station and through Low Level. When the Stour Valley Line reopened, the services through Low Level were quickly reduced. The last London to Birkenhead express ran in March 1967, and in 1968 Shrewsbury services switched to High Level. By 1970, the only services left running from Low Level were local trains to Birmingham Snow Hill via Wednesbury Central. This service ceased when the line closed to passengers in 1972, also seeing the closure of Birmingham's Snow Hill Station.
In 1970, Low Level station was converted to a Parcels Concentration Department. Much of the track work was lifted, and the north signal box demolished. It opened to parcels traffic on 6th April 1970, handling up to 8,000 parcels every day. However, when British Rail's policy on parcel handling altered in the late 1970s, the station was no longer needed and finally closed in June 1981.
Redevelopment of the Low Level station site began in 2006, retaining the main station building (a listed building) while the remainder of the station, including the former main southbound platform was demolished to make way for a retail, hotel, and residential development. The station building itself was destined to become a casino, but thankfully, this fell through Today, the station building has been transformed into a banqueting hall and wedding venue.
Photo - 16th March 1968
Low Level Station & carriage sheds, Wolverhampton, 1968
Its days numbered as a fully functioning railway station, Wolverhampton's Low Level railway station was at this time seeing increased traffic due to the electrification work that was in progress on the West Coast Main Line. This resulted in services being diverted away from Wolverhampton's High Level Station and through Low Level. When the Stour Valley Line reopened, the services through Low Level were quickly reduced. The last London to Birkenhead express ran in March 1967, and in 1968 Shrewsbury services switched to High Level. By 1970, the only services left running from Low Level were local trains to Birmingham Snow Hill via Wednesbury Central. This service ceased when the line closed to passengers in 1972, also seeing the closure of Birmingham's Snow Hill Station.
In 1970, Low Level station was converted to a Parcels Concentration Department. Much of the track work was lifted, and the north signal box demolished. It opened to parcels traffic on 6th April 1970, handling up to 8,000 parcels every day. However, when British Rail's policy on parcel handling altered in the late 1970s, the station was no longer needed and finally closed in June 1981.
Redevelopment of the Low Level station site began in 2006, retaining the main station building (a listed building) while the remainder of the station, including the former main southbound platform was demolished to make way for a retail, hotel, and residential development. The station building itself was destined to become a casino, but thankfully, this fell through Today, the station building has been transformed into a banqueting hall and wedding venue.
Photo - 16th March 1968