Preston  | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Main entrance and train sheds. | |||||
| General information | |||||
| Location | Preston, City of Preston England | ||||
| Coordinates | 53°45′22″N 2°42′26″W / 53.7560°N 2.7072°W | ||||
| Grid reference | SD534290 | ||||
| Managed by | Avanti West Coast | ||||
| Platforms | 9 (7 in public use) | ||||
| Other information | |||||
| Station code | PRE | ||||
| Classification | DfT category B | ||||
| Key dates | |||||
| 31 October 1838 | Opened | ||||
| 2 September 1850 | East Lancashire platforms added | ||||
| July 1880 | Rebuilt | ||||
| 1903 | New platforms added to west side | ||||
| 1913 | New platforms added to east side | ||||
| 1972 | East Lancashire platforms closed | ||||
| Passengers | |||||
| 2019/20 |  4.937 million | ||||
| Interchange |  1.353 million | ||||
| 2020/21 | 1.156 million | ||||
| Interchange | 0.286 million | ||||
| 2021/22 | 4.165 million | ||||
| Interchange | 1.036 million | ||||
| 2022/23 | 4.237 million | ||||
| Interchange | 1.083 million | ||||
| 2023/24 | 4.835 million | ||||
| Interchange | 1.247 million | ||||
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Preston railway station, in Preston, Lancashire, England, is an interchange railway station on the West Coast Main Line, half-way between London Euston and Glasgow Central (209 miles (336 km) from London Euston,[1] 194 miles (312 km) from Glasgow Central). It is served by Avanti West Coast, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express services, plus Caledonian Sleeper overnight services between London and Scotland. It is also served by the Calder Valley line to Leeds and York, and by branch lines to Blackpool North, Ormskirk (for Merseyrail services to Liverpool Central) and Colne.
The North Union Railway opened a station on the site in 1838. It was extended in 1850, with new platforms under the separate management of the East Lancashire Railway, and by 1863 London–Scotland trains stopped here to allow passengers to eat in the station dining room. The current station was built in 1880 and extended in 1903 and 1913, when it had 15 platforms. A free buffet for servicemen was provided during both World Wars. The East Lancashire platforms were demolished in the 1970s as connecting lines closed.
As well as intercity trains to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley, the station is served by local trains to other parts of Lancashire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Yorkshire.