Glenfinnan

Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Fhionnainn[1]
National Rail
The platforms at Glenfinnan in August 2022, looking west
General information
LocationGlenfinnan, Highland
Scotland
Coordinates56°52′21″N 5°26′58″W / 56.8725°N 5.4495°W / 56.8725; -5.4495
Grid referenceNM898809
Managed byScotRail
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeGLF[2]
History
Original companyMallaig Extension Railway of West Highland Railway
Pre-groupingNorth British Railway
Post-groupingLNER
Key dates
1 April 1901Station opened
Passengers
2018/19Increase 12,486
2019/20Increase 13,864
2020/21Decrease 1,876
2021/22Increase 7,924
2022/23Increase 13,420
Listed Building – Category B
Designated29 May 1985
Reference no.LB312[3]
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Glenfinnan railway station is a railway station serving the village of Glenfinnan in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is on the West Highland Line, between Lochailort and Locheilside, located 14 miles 58 chains (23.7 km) from the former Banavie Junction. Glenfinnan Viaduct is about 0.7 miles (1 km) to the east of the station.[4] ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.

History

Glenfinnan station opened on 1 April 1901.[5] The station has two platforms, one on either side of a crossing loop. There are sidings on the south side of the station.

The station was host to a LNER camping coach from 1936 to 1939.[6] A camping coach was also positioned here by the Scottish Region from 1952 to 1962, the coach was replaced in 1963 by a Pullman camping coach which was joined by another Pullman in 1967 until all camping coaches in the region were withdrawn at the end of the 1969 season.[7]

Signalling

Glenfinnan signal box

From its opening in 1901 the Mallaig Extension Railway was worked throughout by the electric token system. Glenfinnan signal box, which had 15 levers, was at the east end of the Down platform, on the south side of the line.

On 13 November 1983, the method of working from Glenfinnan to Mallaig became One Train Working (with train staff). Electric token block was reinstated to Arisaig on 29 April 1984, but One Train Working continued to be used when Arisaig token station was switched out. The Arisaig - Mallaig train staff would then be padlocked to the Glenfinnan - Arisaig key token.

Glenfinnan lost its semaphore signals on 13 April 1986, in preparation for Radio Electronic Token Block (RETB) signalling. RETB was commissioned between Mallaig Junction (now Fort William Junction) and Mallaig on 6 December 1987. This resulted in the closure of Glenfinnan signal box (amongst others). The RETB is controlled from a Signalling Centre at Banavie railway station.

The Train Protection & Warning System was installed in 2003.

Glenfinnan Station Museum

The Glenfinnan Station Museum is located in the station building, on the Down platform. The museum's exhibits focus on the construction, impact and operation of the Mallaig Extension Railway in the late 19th century. The restored booking office includes the original tablet instruments and, again since early 2012, various artefacts specific to the local area. There is also a changing exhibition of railway photography and a gift shop. The museum is open seasonally.

During 2011 and early 2012, the entire Museum site underwent extensive refurbishment. This included major work to the Original Signal Box; a new external staircase, repairs to cladding and a reference theatre/teaching space installed. The main station building underwent alterations to meet current access requirements and new weather proofing on the roof. Ongoing work includes rebuilding the link path between the Station and Glenfinnan Viaduct, site of filming for several Harry Potter films, and expansion of the museum archives.

Facilities

Platform 1 is equipped with a waiting room and a bench (the only facilities on platform 2), a help point and cycle racks. It is also adjacent to the car park, to which there is step-free access. The only access to platform 2 is via one of two barrow crossings.[8] As there are no facilities to purchase tickets, passengers must buy one in advance, or from the guard on the train.

Passenger volume

Passenger Volume at Glenfinnan[9]
2002–03 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23
Entries and exits 3,667 3,853 4,584 5,420 5,307 5,750 6,682 7,402 7,172 8,246 7,736 8,778 9,418 9,122 11,620 12,486 13,864 1,876 7,924 13,420

The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.

Services

156474 and 156476 arrive at Glenfinnan with a ScotRail service bound for Mallaig.

There are four trains per day to Mallaig and three to Glasgow Queen Street, plus a fourth to Fort William that connects with the overnight Caledonian Sleeper to London Euston on weekdays. On Sundays there are three trains per day each way.[10][11]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Locheilside   ScotRail
West Highland Line		   Lochailort
  Historical railways  
Locheilside
Line and Station open		   North British Railway
Mallaig Extension Railway of West Highland Railway
   Lochailort
Line and Station open

References

  1. ↑ Brailsford (2017), Gaelic/English Station Index.
  2. ↑ Deaves, Phil. "Railway Codes". railwaycodes.org.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  3. ↑ "Glenfinnan Railway Station, ticket office/ waiting room and signal box".
  4. ↑ Bridge, Mike, ed. (2017). TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain: A Comprehensive Geographic Atlas Showing the Rail Network of Great Britain (3rd ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. p. 89. ISBN 978-1909431-26-3.
  5. ↑ Butt (1995), p. 104.
  6. ↑ McRae (1997), p. 11.
  7. ↑ McRae (1998), pp. 28–29.
  8. ↑ "National Rail Enquiries -". www.nationalrail.co.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "Estimates of station usage | ORR Data Portal". dataportal.orr.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  10. ↑ eNRT May 2022 Edition, Table 218
  11. ↑ eNRT December 2021 Edition, Table 218

Bibliography

  • Jowett, Alan (March 1989). Jowett's Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland: From Pre-Grouping to the Present Day (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-086-0. OCLC 22311137.
  • Jowett, Alan (2000). Jowett's Nationalised Railway Atlas (1st ed.). Penryn, Cornwall: Atlantic Transport Publishers. ISBN 978-0-906899-99-1. OCLC 228266687.
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