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

 

Latest News

Yorkshire Dales Explorer 15 August 2026

Two guided walks this week and the last chance to see the current exhibition in the Hive Gallery, Bolton. Posted 11.08.26

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Grant Application Successes

Three new projects have received grants from Northern and the Community Rail Development Fund with support from Community Rail Lancashire. Posted 10.08.26

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Squires Gate Quarterly Update July 2026

The Friends of Squires Gate Station on the South Fylde Line look after the public platform and also under licence from Network Rail the disused platform. Posted 03.08.26

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