Cradley Heath railway station

Cradley Heath railway station serves the town of Cradley Heath in the West Midlands of England. It is located on the Birmingham to Worcester via Kidderminster Line. The station is managed by London Midland, who provide the majority of train services; there are also occasional services provided by Chiltern Railways.

Cradley Heath is the nearest station to the Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Brierley Hill, and connecting bus services are provided. As a consequence, it is the station with the most Plusbus ticket sales (tickets for both rail travel and the connecting bus journey).. Cradley Heath bus station is situated right in front of the railway station; thus effectively forming Cradley Heath Interchange.

History
The station was opened in 1863 by the Stourbridge Railway, on their line from Stourbridge Junction to Old Hill. This was later taken over by the Great Western Railway, who incorporated it into their line to Birmingham. Historically, the station was known as Cradley.

Tony Rivers of Netherton, Dudley, saved a woman who was trapped on the line at the station and was subsequently awarded the George Medal.

The present station buildings date from the mid-1980s when the station was rebuilt entirely on the west side of the level crossing. Previously there had been a staggered platform arrangement on either side of the crossing.

Services
During Monday to Saturday daytimes, there are six trains per hour in each direction, operated by London Midland, between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stourbridge Junction. Many of these continue beyond Stourbridge to Kidderminster, Worcester Foregate Street or Great Malvern, and beyond Birmingham to Whitlocks End, Stratford-upon-Avon, Dorridge or Leamington Spa. During the evenings and on Sundays, there are typically two trains per hour.

There are also occasional trains during peak periods to/from London Marylebone, provided by Chiltern Railways.

Bus Interchange
Alongside the Rail Station, there is a 5 stand bus interchange which opened during the 1980s. The bus station is owned and operated by Centro who charges operators for the usage.

Of all the services stopping here, only 2 terminates here. This being Hansons service 124 and Diamond Bus service 240. Only two bus services serving Cradley Heath town centre do not stop/terminate here.

Stand A alongside Stand B have services terminating/travelling via the Merry Hill Shopping Centre except the 214 which returns to Cradley Heath and Stand C, Stand D and Stand E typically have services returning to Cradley Heath.