Midgham railway station

Midgham railway station, formerly known as Woolhampton railway station, is a railway station in the English county of Berkshire. It is located in the village of Woolhampton, but takes its current name from the village of Midgham that lies some 2 miles (3.2 km) away.

Midgham
Midgham station, looking east
General information
Location	Woolhampton; Midgham, West Berkshire England
Coordinates	51.3961°N 1.1783°W / 51.3961; -1.1783
Grid reference	SU572666
Managed by	Great Western Railway
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	MDG
Classification	DfT category F2
History
Original company	Berks and Hants Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Western Railway
Post-grouping	GWR
Key dates
21 December 1847	Opened as "Woolhampton"
1 March 1873	Renamed "Midgham"
2 November 1964	Renamed "Midgham Halt"
5 May 1969	Renamed "Midgham"
Passengers
2019/20	36,770
2020/21	8,826
2021/22	24,158
2022/23	32,440
2023/24	36,230
Location
Notes Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

The station before electrification looking to the west from the level crossing

The station is on the Reading to Taunton railway line and is 46 miles 59 chains (46.74 miles, 75.22 km) from London Paddington.

History

The line from Reading to Hungerford was planned by the Berks and Hants Railway, and before it was opened, it was absorbed by the Great Western Railway (GWR).^[1] The station at Woolhampton was opened with the line on 21 December 1847;^[2] it was originally named "Woolhampton" but on 1 March 1873 was renamed "Midgham".^[3][4][5] The station appeared in a 1943 World War 2 information film for US service personnel titled A Welcome to Britain.^[6]

The station was subsequently renamed twice by British Rail: on 2 November 1964 it became "Midgham Halt" but on 5 May 1969 it reverted to "Midgham".^[7]

Description

Midgham station is near the centre of Woolhampton village, on an unclassified road just south of its junction with the A4 road. There are two flanking platforms on each side of the double track line. The Reading bound platform has a small shelter and a small car park. The unclassified road crosses the railway line at the eastern end of the station by means of a level crossing, and this crossing also provides the only access between the platforms.

Services

The station is served by local services operated by Great Western Railway from Reading to Newbury. Trains run hourly in both directions on Mondays to Saturdays, and every other hour on a Sunday. Typical journey times are about 12 minutes to Newbury and 20 minutes to Reading. Passengers for London Paddington must normally change trains at Reading (except on Sundays, when services run to and from the capital).^[8]

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Aldermaston		Great Western Railway Reading to Newbury Local Services Reading to Taunton line		Thatcham

Incidents

On 10 August 1927, the leading bogie of the new King class locomotive, 6003 King George IV, became derailed at speed approaching Midgham. The incident led to the suspension arrangement of the unusual bogie being improved.^[9]