Dent railway station

The station was designed by the Midland Railway's company architect John Holloway Sanders and opened in 1877. It was closed in May 1970, but was reopened by British Rail in 1986 following a campaign to maintain regular stopping services along the line. Initial consideration had been given to siting a station for the valley at Dent Head, further to the south and adjacent to the road running over Gayle Moor towards Hawes and Ingleton; however, this was ruled out in favour of the current location, as it would have been nearly twice as far from Dent village. During the 1970s, the station was rented out to Barden School in Burnley as an outdoor pursuits centre, providing accommodation for pupils whilst they participated in courses including pot holing, caving, geology and map reading. On weekdays, there were formerly five trains in each direction, with six each way on Saturdays and three each way on Sundays. In addition, DalesRail services operated on summer Sundays from Blackpool North and Preston to Carlisle, with one journey in each direction. Northbound trains terminated at either Appleby or Armathwaite until the end of March 2017, as the Armathwaite to Carlisle section was closed whilst the damaged embankment at Eden Brows was repaired. Services through to the terminus at Carlisle resumed on 31 March 2017. ==Location==

Dent village lies approximately by road to the west and below the height of the station. Cowgill is the nearest small village, located around half a mile away but at the foot of a steep (maximum 20% or 1 in 5) spiral access road. At an altitude of and situated between Blea Moor Tunnel and Rise Hill Tunnel immediately to its north, Dent is the highest operational railway station on the National Rail network in England. ==Facilities==

There are stone-built passenger waiting rooms provided on both the northbound and southbound platforms. Access to the southbound platform is by an unguarded barrow crossing at the south end of the station for foot passengers to use; a 30 mph permanent speed restriction for non-stop trains through the station is enforced for this reason. National Rail recommends that disabled passengers should not use the southbound platform without assistance. Like most stations on the line, there are no ticket machines available as yet, though Northern have stated they plan to provide one; travellers must buy one on the train or in advance. Train running information can be obtained by telephone on the platforms, from timetable posters or the customer information screens installed on either platform. Old wooden snow fences are still in place on the eastern side of the station. The station buildings are now privately owned and are available to rent as holiday cottage accommodation. ==Services==

Class 47 locomotive, in BR Two Tone Green livery, passing through Dent station Since the May 2018 timetable change, the service is eight northbound train and six southbound calls on weekdays, with five each way on Sundays. == References ==