With the drawdown of coal-fired power stations in line with UK government directives, the sidings have been used less due to the loss of coal trains.

[3] This second line, with a south to east facing connection to the Leeds and Selby railway, was completed in 1840.

[14] The sidings provide access to lines through Castleford, Pontefract, Knottingley, Swinton, Goole and Doncaster to the south, to Selby, Hull in the east, and York to the north.

[18] With the downturn in the electricity supply industry (ESI) coal trains due to power station closures,[19] many redundant coal hopper wagons have been stored at both sets of sidings either side of the main north/south lines.

[20] The site has also been used to store redundant Mk 3 coaches from displaced Intercity 125 sets which have been superseded by newer trains on the East Coast Main Line.

[21] Milford Down yard was used as a temporary offloading point for desulphogypsum from Drax Power Station bound for the gypsum plant at nearby Sherburn-in-Elmet in 2007.