| Pontefract Tanshelf | |
| Symbol Location: | gb |
| Symbol: | rail |
| Borough: | Pontefract, City of Wakefield |
| Country: | England |
| Coordinates: | 53.694°N -1.319°W |
| Grid Name: | Grid reference |
| Manager: | Northern |
| Platforms: | 2 |
| Code: | POT |
| Zone: | 3 |
| Classification: | DfT category F2 |
| Transit Authority: | West Yorkshire Metro |
| Years: | 17 July 1871 |
| Events: | Station opened as Tanshelf |
| Years1: | 1 December 1936 |
| Events1: | Station renamed Pontefract Tanshelf |
| Years2: | 2 January 1967 |
| Events2: | Station closed |
| Years3: | 11 May 1992 |
| Events3: | Station reopened |
| Footnotes: | Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road |
Pontefract Tanshelf railway station is the most central station in the town of Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England, and serves Pontefract Races, the racecourse located just down the street from the station. It lies on the Pontefract Line operated by Northern and is 8miles east of Wakefield Kirkgate.[1] In the days of coal mining in the Pontefract area, the station served the needs of the local workforce with regular and frequent services timed for the beginning and the end of mining shifts. The station is the closest to the former Prince of Wales Colliery which closed in August 2002.[2] The station serves Beechnut Lane, the home ground of Pontefract Collieries F.C.
The first station on the site was opened on 17 July 1871 as Tanshelf, being renamed Pontefract Tanshelf on 1 December 1936.[3] It was closed on 2 January 1967,[4] when the passenger services were diverted away from the direct line to Wakefield Kirkgate (via, to serve Leeds via Castleford.[5] The present station was opened by West Yorkshire Metro on 11 May 1992, when the line between and was reopened.
The other stations in the town are Pontefract Monkhill and Pontefract Baghill.[6]
Unlike Pontefract Monkhill, both platforms of Tanshelf are wheelchair-accessible.
On Monday to Saturday, there is an hourly service to Wakefield Kirkgate and and also hourly to Knottingley. On Sundays, there is a two-hourly service each way to the same destinations.