Saffron Walden train station in Essex opened in 1865 and was the brainchild of the local Gibson family, who used their bank to fund the railway. There are now two homes on site
Abandoned train stations have a certain appeal that makes adventurers excited to visit them in a bid to discover more about their history.
While some buildings remain abandoned for long periods of time, they are sometimes repurposed. One station which underwent an interesting renovation is the one in Saffron Walden, Essex. It opened in 1865 and was the brainchild of the local Gibson family, who used their bank to fund the railway.
The station remained independent until it was bought by the Great Eastern Railway on January 1, 1877. In its early days, there were six return trains daily, and between 1877 and 1894, services ran from Saffron Walden to London.
Coaches from the 1890s were still in use on the line until the 1950s. From July 1958, railbuses took over operations until the station’s closure. Passenger services ceased on September 7, 1964, followed by freight services three months later.
At Audley End, services used a separate platform, the building of which can still be seen in the current car park. Fast forward to the present day, most of the station site has been cleared of its railway past and converted into access roads for housing along the former track bed, reports EssexLive.
The main station building and a small section of the platform have been transformed into two private homes. For the residents of Saffron Walden, there is now a single train station situated at Audley End.
Last year, we reported the story of an abandoned train station that has been transformed into a luxury five-star hotel, complete with a spa and wellness centre. Canfranc Station, located in the Spanish Pyrenees near the French border, opened as a rail hub in 1928 and during World War II witnessed arrests, espionage as well as gold trafficking.
However, by 1970 the station had closed its doors and it lay dormant for decades until work began to transform the building into a hotel operated by the Barcelo Hotel Group. After being restored for years, Canfranc Station welcomed its first guests back in January, with residents welcoming the innovation that is believed to boost the local economy.
María Bellosta, hotel manager at Canfranc, said “special attention” was paid to every detail in the renovation project. She explained the company wanted to keep the station’s “DNA, its international railway spirit” while transforming it into a luxurious building. Following the renovation, there are 104 rooms in the hotel, including four suites, a wellness area, a pool and three restaurants.