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Location notes
Situated in Doncaster town centre, the station is on the ECML and also on the Sheffield - Scunthorpe/Hull Line.
Railway type and traffic
A very busy station, with plenty of National Express action with both stopping and 100mph through trains which can be 91s or HSTs. There also Hull trains services from Hull to London, operated with Class 222 Pioneers, Northern Rail services from Doncaster to Leeds (Class 321s) and Sheffield - Hull / Scunthorpe (Classes 144, 142, 153, 150 156 and 158), First Transpennine express run an hourly Cleethorpes to Manchester Train, run by class 185 DMUs. Midland Mainline also run services through Doncaster, but only early morning and late at night, these are formed of HSTs. Finally there is a Central Trains Service to Lincoln via Gainsborough, usually a 153. Grand Central HSTs pass through non stop as an addition to all the above.
Lots of freight with DB Schenker, Freightliner and GBRf all passing through frequently.
Environment
In the city centre, the station is enthusiast friendly and there is invariably other enthusiasts around.
Road directions
Parking
The car park for the station is now within the new Frenchgate centre, this is a multi story car park with plenty of security, there are also many excellent small car parks which often cost considerably less, however, these become full quickly.
Public transport
The new Frenchgate interchange is adjacent with buses to and from all areas of South Yorkshire, along with some longer distance services.
See the following TOC Websites for train information:
East Coast - From London and Scotland.Transpennine ExpressHull TrainsNorthern RailClick here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are gents and ladies toilets on platform 4, ladies on platform 3, and gents on platform 1.
The station has 2 'Pumpkin' cafes, 2 costa coffee 'booths' and 2 'Journeys Friend' outlets, the latter sell everything from Drinks and Crisps to Magazines and even travel accessories.
If you want to go further, there is a chip shop nearby along with a Greggs and some other food outlets in the Frenchgate centre - go left out of the station and go up the escalator.
Accommodation
There is plenty of accommodation in Doncaster and the surrounding area.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Doncaster Station
Googly map
Streetmap links
Doncaster Station general view map
Doncaster Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Doncaster Station
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
There are a number of locations around the station. Platform 4 is good for evening shots of trains on the mainlines, conversely Platform 3 is good for morning shots. Throughout the day, trains heading south have the favourable sun, but northbound shots are still perfectly fine!
The station is also good for videoing, either ends of platform 3 or 4 are usually fine.
Update from Doug Barrow - Jan 2008:
Photographic Note - The Multi-Storey Car Park is no longer recommended as the Frenchgate Security people use closed-circuit television and someone is quickly despatched to 'see-off' people trying to take photographs of the station area from the car park... citing the grounds of 'security' because of the nearby prison (to the west of the former Railway Works).
Links to photographs at this location
UK Railpics - Doncaster
General views - All photographs © Jordan Allen unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
From the middle of platform 4
Fig 2 - Looking north
From middle of platform 3
Fig 3 - Looking south- Photo by Marcus Dawson
From the south end of platform 4. A number of workings use the cross overs at the south end of the station. To get from the lines from Sheffield to the east cost lines
Fig 4 - Looking north- Photo by Marcus Dawson
From the south end of platform 4, reverse angle of fig 3
Fig 5 - Looking north- Photo by Marcus Dawson
There is a set of freight avoiding lines to the west of the station
Fig 6 - Looking north- Photo by Marcus Dawson
From the south end of platform 4, a unit on the the ECML heading north
Fig 7 - Looking south- Photo by Marcus Dawson
From the south end of platform 5
Fig 8 - Looking south - Photo by Marcus Dawson
From the car park looking at the rear of a south bound working in platform 5
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