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A Grade II* listed building Link , designed in Tudor style for the Caledonian Railway Company by prolific railway architect Sir William Tite Link . Sometimes referred to as Carlisle Citadel, the station opened in 1847 and was extended 1879-80.

The station layout has changed very little over the years, with the eight platforms (three through and five bays) still in use today.

Platform 1: A through platform, serving as bi-directional relief West Coast Main Line platform
Platform 2: A bay platform, serving the Cumbrian Coast Line
Platform 3: A through platform, serving the West Coast Main Line north-bound
Platform 4: A through platform, serving the West Coast Main Line south-bound
Platform 5: A bay platform, serving Tyne Valley Line
Platform 6: A bay platform, serving Carlisle-Settle-Leeds Line
Platform 7: A bay platform, serving the former Glasgow & South Western Line to Glasgow via Dumfries
Platform 8: A Bay platform, serving early morning services to Scotland

In addition to the tracks serving the platforms, there are additional stabling lines and passing loops within the station.

The station was at one time served by seven different railway companies. At the time of writing (January 2015), four companies operate services from the station.

Virgin Trains: West Coast Main Line Services to London Euston, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh

First Trans-Pennine Express: Services to Manchester Airport, Glasgow and Edinburgh

First Scotrail*: Services to Dumfries and Glasgow (via Dumfries)

Northern Rail: Services to Whitehaven, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancaster, Newcastle (via Hexham) and Leeds (via Settle)

* the First Scotrail franchise will transfer to Abellio Link from 1st April 2015.