 SHREWSBURY Like many stations, Shrewsbury has seen grander days, but most of its
grandeur is still intact. Built as a combined station and hotel, it is a big, imposing building, with crenellations in
mimicry of its close neighbour, Shrewsbury Castle. It is located at the edge of the main shopping area, though you have
to trek uphill to the shops (this is standard for Shrewsbury as the town centre sits on top of a hill and everything is
down or up). Its forecourt allows limited parking only, with a set-down area. The entrance is canopied in front of a
ticket office and separate information area on opposite sides of a short, level subway. This leads to steps and a lift
up to the main platform, which has four numbers: 4 and 7 are the main faces, while 5  and 6 lie in a bay at the southern end. (Platforms 1 and 2 have
disappeared, and platform 3, just above the station entrance is now only used in special circumstances.) The main
platform offers toilets (by the bay) and refreshments. Behind the station is a pay-and-display parking area, though you
have to drive round and under the station, then up Howard Street to reach it. Once on foot, there is a level, roofed
overbridge (by a sign that says The Dana) that will take you directly to the station building - the quick way down
involves 35 steps, but staying on the sloping path gives wheelchairs (etc.) a longer-winded but easier route.
Wheels: SH.
 Shrewsbury also serves the Walsall-Shrewsbury line. Click here to transfer to our guide for that line.
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CHURCH STRETTON station is at the bottom of the central shopping street, down
to the right side of the overbridge (the old station was to the left but is now private property). This is the
Shrewsbury platform; the Hereford platform is reached either by a modern steel overbridge, or by road from the A49
Church Stretton by-pass along Crossways. Entrances to both platforms are close to the overbridge, bench seats are at
the foot of the bridge, and there is a modern stone open-fronted shelter on each platform, but no ticket office. There
is parking for about a dozen cars. Wheels: SH.
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CRAVEN ARMS station lies north of the centre of Craven Arms, just off the A49
Shrewsbury Road, on the west side. Facilities are basic: two shelters and an overbridge with no apparent alternative
for the wheel-borne. There is no ticket office, but parking is provided for about 30 cars.
Wheels: SH.
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 LUDLOW station lies near a supermarket on Station Road, an eastern branch off Corve
Street, Ludlow's main north- south street. The line curves against the shoulder of a hill through the station then
disappears into a short tunnel at its southern end. The photo shows the tunnel, the open fronted shelter provided on
both platforms, the passenger overbridge,
and beyond the overbridge, one of the two access ramps. Behind the camera lies a new ticket office, adjacent to a pay
and display parking area. The wheelchair route takes you to a road over the tunnel entrance, then down a footpath  on the Hereford side to reach the ramp itself. The footpath is tarmac, and quite manageable with prams, but looks hard work for an unassisted wheelchair. We'd
also guess that most prams will get struggled over the passenger bridge instead going round. Wheels:
SH.
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LEOMINSTER is best found by accident. Certainly deliberate seeking may serve
you ill. You'll gather we would have liked more signing. It's to the east of the town centre in Worcester Road (use
Etnam Street from the centre), and Leominster station is just off the east side of this with just a small amount of
forecourt parking. (Worcester Road continues on to a roundabout junction with the A49, which will be an easier access
for some. The station itself once had four tracks through it, but some have disappeared, and what was platform 3 is now
fenced off. It is still the old station building on platform one, with a decent canopy cover and refreshments available
as well. But the footbridge is the only link to the other side. Wheels: SH.
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HEREFORD is a fine example of a traditional station that looks well cared
for. It was freshly painted when we were there, with plenty of flowers also in evidence. There are three major
platforms plus a bay, with canopied areas for shelter. The main station building includes a ticket office and
refreshments, and a passenger overbridge links the platforms. Hereford's main buildings are easy access, and wheelchair
users can presumably ask for assistance to cross to the opposite platform via the boarded parcel crossing.
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Outside the station, a large level area provides substantial short stay and pay-and-display parking. As you'll gather,
we liked this station. Wheels: SH.
Hereford also serves the Worcester-Hereford line. Click here to transfer to our guide for that line.
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