There are two platforms: platform 1 to the north for trains towards Nottingham and Lincoln; and platform 2 to the south for trains towards London, Leicester, Birmingham and Derby. The platforms may be accessed either by steps from the Station Road bridge, or by short ramps from Station Road for platform 1 or Technology Drive for platform 2.
The original station building, which was little more than a cottage, was replaced in 1847 with the substantially larger white brick building with ashlar trimmings which still exists. This is notable for its carved bargeboards, some remaining diagonal paned windows and the pseudo-heraldic shields with 'MR' and '1847'.[4][page needed] The wooden platform canopies and adjacent wrought-iron and glass canopy were installed in 1871. The wooden platform canopies were originally located at Southwell railway station, and were relocated to Beeston when Southwell was rebuilt.[5][page needed]
The growth of Beeston led to substantial expansion of the station facilities in the Edwardian period. An extension containing a large booking hall, ladies' waiting room and parcels office was added to the rear of the station building, doubling its floorspace.
20th century
The station in 1967
In 1937, the Midland Railway drew up plans for an additional waiting room on platform 2, but the plan was never put into action.
The level crossing, lattice footbridge and signal box survived until 1969, when Beeston and StaplefordUrban District Council built a road bridge (Station Bridge) across the railway to ease traffic delays caused by the frequent closure of the level crossing. This effectively replaced the footbridge between the two platforms.
Dedication plaque on the Station Road bridge
With the decline in passenger numbers in the 1980s, the entire station suffered from vandalism and neglect; British Rail proposed complete demolition. A spirited campaign by the local civic society and rail historians led to the listing of the station building in 1987. A separate listing application was made in the early 1990s and the platform shelters were also listed. This was followed by restoration of what remained of the 1847 building and the platform shelters. The (architecturally undistinguished) extension was demolished, revealing the original gables on the north side of the building.
21st century
The original platform masonry survived until 2004, when the platforms were completely rebuilt.
28 January 2004
5 February 2004
6 February 2004
18 February 2004
18 February 2004
Rebuilt platforms, 21 July 2005
Nottingham remodelling scheme
Between 20 July and 25 August 2013, the services from the station were reduced because of the Nottingham remodelling and resignalling scheme.[6] It acted as a terminus for trains from London, via East Midlands Parkway, and from Derby, with a frequent rail-replacement shuttle bus running to and from Nottingham while the western end of the station and approach lines were remodelled.
His salary was 24 shillings per week. Here he remained for over 13 years and received advances for 9 years until his salary nearly doubled to £120 per annum.
The railway employed a large number of local people. The 1881 census for Beeston[19] shows 141 men with railway employment, although there is no evidence that they all worked in Beeston.
Miscellaneous
In 1864, John Ashe is listed as the booking clerk.
Leslie Blood worked in the booking office from 1926 to 1939, when he was promoted to the position of Stationmaster at Stoke Golding.
Passenger numbers using the station have risen substantially in recent years; facilities include a ticket office, ticket vending machines, a café, bicycle racks, car parking and a taxi rank.[20]
The Victoria Hotelpublic house is adjacent to the Nottingham-bound platform and has its own gate access to the platform, for which it reputedly pays an annual peppercorn rent of 50 pence. The gate was locked out of use for a number of years, so access to the Victoria Hotel was via Technology Drive or Barton St; however, it was opened for access again in 2014.
Network Rail have a long-term aspiration to extend both platforms by up to 69 metres.[21]
In January 2024, Network Rail started work on a nine month project to add new lifts, allowing direct step-free access between the two platforms.[22][23]
The first station master's house was built in 1839 as a small cabin.
It was replaced by a larger building, which was originally at Southwell; it was moved to Beeston and erected in 1857. The house, at 211 Station Road, is now private property in use as Station House Children's Day Nursery.
^"Syston". Leicester Chronicle. England. 16 July 1892. Retrieved 7 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Midland Railway Station-Masters". Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal. England. 25 June 1920. Retrieved 27 December 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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