CRL - Community Rail Lancashire

Stations

Station
Burnley Central

Burnley Central Station, originally called Burnley Bank Top, sits on high ground close to the town centre. The town dates back to Anglo Saxon times when the town was established on the banks of the River Brun. The river gave the town its name derived from Brun Lea ‘the field near the Brun’. The town was granted its market charter in 1400 and at this time had a population of around 600.

With the coming of the Industrial Revolution the population exploded with townsfolk finding employment in cotton mills, coal mines and foundries. By 1886 Burnley was the cotton weaving capital of the world producing more cotton cloth per year than any other town in the world. The Leeds Liverpool canal runs through the town on an impressive mile long embankment, well worth a visit.

The railway station was opened by the East Lancashire Railway Company in 1848. A short branch line ran from the station to Bank Hall colliery and the branch has now been revitalised as a cycleway and pleasant walk.

Address

Burnley Central Station
Railway Street
Burnley
Lancashire
BB11 1DA

Grid Reference

SD 839330 – for a map visit www.streetmap.co.uk and enter the grid reference.

Operator

Northern (DOHL)

Facilities

+  Staffed station (booking office open Mon to Fri 06.30 – 13:30)
+  Ticket Vending Machine
+  Hourly service to Colne and Preston
+  Waiting Room (open during booking office hours)
+  Free car park (20 spaces)
+  Long Line Public Address
+  Cycle storage

Other Information

+  Bus station is a 15 minute walk from the railway station – click here for bus timetables
+  Friends of Station – visit communityraillancashire.co.uk/station-adoption/ for more details
+  CRP branded notice boards
+  Burnley’s new college is a 5 minute walk – click here for more information

 

Location

Latest News

Celebrations At The National Rail Awards

Success for Northern, Community Rail Lancashire & the Friends of St. Annes-on-the-Sea station. Posted 18.09.25

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Stations of Welcome Awards Success

Stations of welcome success at BBC Make a Difference Awards 2025. Posted 18.09.25

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Yorkshire Dales Explorer 20 September 2025

This week sees the last of this year's guided walks led by the Lancashire Rail Ramblers with three walks in the Swaledale area. FoSCL also have a walk available from Hellifield to Settle. Posted 06.09.25

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