![]() Aberdeen Station in 2022 | |
General information | |
Location | Aberdeen, City of Aberdeen Scotland |
Coordinates | 57°08′37″N2°05′55″W / 57.1436°N 2.0985°W |
Grid reference | NJ941058 |
Owned by | Network Rail/Scotrail |
Operated by | Scotrail |
Managed by | ScotRail |
Platforms | 6 (numbered 2–7) |
Train operators | Scotrail, Cross country, LNER, Calidonian Sleeper |
Other information | |
Station code | ABD [2] |
History | |
Original company | Denburn Valley Line |
Key dates | |
4 November 1867 | Station opened as Aberdeen Joint to replace Aberdeen Guild Street and Aberdeen Waterloo [3] |
1913–1916 | Rebuilt |
1952 | Renamed Aberdeen [3] |
2007–2008 | Major refurbishment |
2020-2022 | Major redevelopment |
Passengers | |
2018/19 | ![]() |
Interchange | ![]() |
2019/20 | ![]() |
Interchange | ![]() |
2020/21 | ![]() |
Interchange | ![]() |
2021/22 | ![]() |
Interchange | ![]() |
2022/23 | ![]() |
Interchange | ![]() |
Listed Building –Category A | |
Official name | Guild Street Aberdeen Railway Station and Road Overbridge |
Designated | 2 March 1990 |
Reference no. | LB20673 [4] |
Notes | |
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road |
Aberdeen railway station is the main railway station in Aberdeen,Scotland. It is the busiest railway station in Scotland north of the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is located on Guild Street in the city centre,next to Union Square.
The station is managed by ScotRail. Inter-city,regional,local and sleeper train services are provided to all parts of Great Britain by ScotRail,Caledonian Sleeper,CrossCountry and London North Eastern Railway. The station is the northern terminus of the Dundee–Aberdeen line and the southern terminus of the Aberdeen–Inverness line,and is measured 241 miles 6 chains (388.0 km) from Carlisle via Perth. [5]
The station currently standing was built and opened in 1867,although the station today has been significantly redeveloped from the original. [6] The station and the new Denburn Valley Line enabled the main line from the south and the commuter line from Deeside to connect with the line from the north. The lines from the south had previously terminated at the adjacent Aberdeen Guild Street. Even this had not been Aberdeen's first railway station,that distinction belonging to a previous terminus a short way south at Ferryhill. [6]
Prior to the construction of the Joint Station,lines from the north had terminated at Aberdeen Waterloo,a short but inconvenient distance along the edge of the harbour. This too became a goods station after the construction of the Joint Station. [7]
As a result of the grouping of railway companies under the Railways Act 1921,Aberdeen was shared by the London and North Eastern Railway and the London Midland and Scottish Railway,each company running the station for a year and then handing its administration to the other company. At nationalisation in 1948,it then became part of British Rail. As part of the changes during this period which saw a general contraction of railway services in the UK,some services were cut in the 1960s. These included those running north to Peterhead and Ellon as well as the Deeside Line. Suburban services were heavily reduced and the grand suburban ticket office,located on the corner of Guild Street and Bridge Street,was closed. It now houses a hair and beauty salon. The number of platforms at the station were also reduced considerably in the early 1970s,from the thirteen of the late 1950s/early 1960s down to just seven by 1973. [8] This rationalisation process saw the removal of all of the north end bay platforms to allow for redevelopment of that part of the site. However,significant improvements under British Rail included introduction of InterCity 125 high-speed service to London and other major destinations,and introduction of other new rolling stock. Other improvements included a new Travel Centre opened in 1978 and under British Rail's regional brand ScotRail,a major station renovation was completed in the 1980s. The station was also resignalled around this time,with two more bay platforms (1 &2) taken out of use along with the former through platforms 8 &9. This left just five platforms (3–7) in regular use –the layout that remains in operation to this day. The two former bay platforms remain in place and are used as sidings. The former double track through platforms 8 and 9 has since been singled,but the platform faces remain.
At privatisation in the mid-1990s,ownership of the station passed to Railtrack (along with all stations and other infrastructure in England,Wales and Scotland),while day-to-day management passed to the train-operating franchisee ScotRail,a division of National Express. Following the quasi-nationalisation of railway infrastructure in the early 2000s,the station is now owned by Network Rail. In 2004,the train-operating franchise and station management were taken over by First ScotRail. ScotRail continue to operate trains but the station and all signage is now branded with the "ScotRail" logo,typeface and rolling-stock livery.
British Rail's Motorail service ran between London and Aberdeen from 1968 [9] until Friday 26 May 1995. [10]
Plans to reintroduce a Motorail service between London and Aberdeen operated by Motorail Ltd were announced December 1998 [11] and confirmed in March 1999. [12]
Historic Environment Scotland designate the current building and road overbridge as Category A,noting that it was the last major station to be completed in Scotland in the period 1913–1920. [4]
Plans to relocate the ticket office and passenger waiting room,as well as upgrades to the taxi rank and concourse,were approved by Aberdeen City Council in December 2018,with work due to start in spring 2019. [13] Under a separate scheme,the vacant Atholl House building to the north of the station is to be demolished,making way for the construction of a public square,hotel and student accommodation,and improved connections between the city's main Union Street and the station. [14] This development could allow the currently disused platforms 8 and 9 to be brought back into service. [15]
As of early 2019,the station's glass roof is undergoing replacement with polycarbonate panels as part of a £9 million upgrade. [16] In June 2020,ScotRail announced that it would proceed with the modifications to the ticket office,waiting room,and taxi rank as soon as it was safe to do so following the coronavirus pandemic. There are no plans to reinstate the platforms yet. [17] These developments were completed by the end of 2021. [18]
In March 2021,it was confirmed that further work would be undertaken to improve the passenger experience in the station,including significant improvement in retail facilities,improvements to the taxi rank area and better connectivity with Union Square and the wider Aberdeen City Centre. [19]
The North Corner Pavilion Building,which had fallen into disrepair,was restored as part of the station redevelopment in December 2021. Repairs were sympathetic and in keeping with the original features of the category A-listed building. [20] The restoration was recognized in the 2022 National Railway Heritage Awards,where it won The Arch Company Award for Urban Heritage Award. [21]
By December 2022,all improvement works were completed. Both the ticket office and first class lounge were relocated to allow for further retail space. Modern glazed frontage was added to the units. Four new customer information screens were installed as part of renovation works,along with improvements to staff accommodation. Jenny Gilruth,the then Transport Minister opened the redeveloped station on 5 December 2022. The redevelopment was funded by the Scottish Government,ScotRail,Network Rail,the Railway Heritage Trust,and Serco [22]
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There is a staffed travel centre providing ticket office and information facilities (e.g. timetables). There are also automatic ticket machines outside this office and in the main concourse. Tickets purchased in advance (e.g. on the internet) can be collected from any of these machines. The entrance to the ScotRail first-class lounge is located above the ticket office (travel centre). Luggage trolleys are provided for travellers with baggage and a left-luggage facility is available with access from the front forecourt of the station. There is step-free access to all platforms from the bridge. There are also two sets of toilets near the main entrance, as well as payphones and an excess fares office. [23]
A waiting room is available on the main concourse, as is a branch of WHSmith selling books, magazines, stationery and confectionery. There is also a pub and cafe. A wide range of other shopping and eating facilities are located in the Union Square complex which can be accessed directly through the concourse and is integrated with the station building. [24]
The main origin or destination station for journeys to or from Aberdeen in the 2022–23 period was Edinburgh, making up 216,214 of the 1,961,414 journeys (13.3%). [25]
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 | 1,761,041 | 1,931,973 | 2,107,855 | 2,278,872 | 2,470,281 | 2,568,810 | 2,657,014 | 2,964,302 | 3,170,464 | 3,338,072 | 3,599,431 | 3,742,646 | 3,459,944 | 3,058,268 | 2,948,150 | 2,616,142 | 2,497,108 | 393,982 | 1,536,720 | 1,961,414 |
Interchanges | – [nb 1] | 187,983 | 201,417 | 230,788 | 119,259 | 162,526 | 164,299 | 148,594 | 197,040 | 200,864 | 219,085 | 219,002 | 204,139 | 192,344 | 179,958 | 258,416 | 237,220 | 27,863 | 124,666 | 179,272 |
The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.
All scheduled services are operated by diesel-powered rolling stock. The services from Aberdeen for the May 2022 timetable are: [26]
Preceding station | ![]() | Following station | ||
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Stonehaven or Dundee | CrossCountry Cross Country Route | Terminus | ||
Portlethen | ScotRail Dundee–Aberdeen line | Terminus | ||
Terminus | ScotRail Aberdeen to Inverness Line | Dyce | ||
Portlethen To Montrose | ScotRail Aberdeen Crossrail | Dyce To Inverurie | ||
Stonehaven | Caledonian Sleeper Caledonian Sleeper | Terminus | ||
Stonehaven | London North Eastern Railway East Coast Main Line | Terminus | ||
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Terminus | NorthLink Ferries Shetland ferry service | Lerwick | ||
Terminus | NorthLink Ferries Orkney ferry service | Kirkwall | ||
Historical railways | ||||
Terminus | Caledonian Railway Aberdeen Railway | Cove Bay Line open; Station closed | ||
Terminus | Great North of Scotland Railway Deeside Railway | Holburn Street Line partly open; Station closed | ||
Terminus | GNoSR / CR Joint Denburn Valley Line | Schoolhill Line open; Station closed |
Regional and national bus services (including the Jet 727 to Aberdeen Airport) depart from Aberdeen bus station, which is located on the other side of the adjoining Union Square shopping centre. [27]
Aberdeen railway station offers interchange with Aberdeen ferry terminal, which lies approximately 450 metres (490 yards) away, the departure point for ferry services operated by NorthLink Ferries to the Orkney and Shetland Islands. [28]
Manchester Piccadilly is the main railway station of the city of Manchester, in the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, England. Opened originally as Store Street in 1842, it was renamed Manchester London Road in 1847 and became Manchester Piccadilly in 1960. Located to the south-east of the city centre, it hosts long-distance intercity and cross-country services to national destinations including London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Reading, Southampton and Bournemouth; regional services to destinations in Northern England including Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and York; and local commuter services around Greater Manchester. It is one of 19 major stations managed by Network Rail. The station has 14 platforms: 12 terminal and two through platforms. Piccadilly is also a major interchange with the Metrolink light rail system with two tram platforms in its undercroft.
Glasgow Central, usually referred to in Scotland as just Central or Central Station, is one of two principal mainline rail terminals in Glasgow, Scotland. The railway station was opened by the Caledonian Railway on 1 August 1879 and is one of 20 managed by Network Rail. It is the northern terminus of the West Coast Main Line. As well as being Glasgow's principal inter-city terminus for services to England, Central also serves the southern suburbs of the Greater Glasgow conurbation, as well as the Ayrshire and Clyde coasts. The other main station in Glasgow is Glasgow Queen Street.
Glasgow Queen Street is a passenger railway terminus serving the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the smaller of the city's two mainline railway terminals and is the third busiest station in Scotland behind Central and Edinburgh Waverley.
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the principal railway station serving Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the second busiest station in Scotland, after Glasgow Central. The station serves as the northern terminus of the East Coast Main Line, 393 miles 13 chains from London King's Cross, although some trains operated by London North Eastern Railway continue to other Scottish destinations beyond Edinburgh.
Perth railway station is a railway station located in the city of Perth, Scotland, on both the Glasgow to Dundee line and the Highland Main Line. It is managed by ScotRail, who provide almost all of the services.
Coventry railway station is the main railway station serving the city of Coventry, West Midlands, England. The station is on the Birmingham loop of the West Coast Main Line (WCML); it is also located at the centre of a junction where the lines to Nuneaton and to Leamington converge. It is situated on the southern edge of the city-centre, just outside the Coventry ring road, about 250 yards to the south of junction 6.
Inverness railway station is the railway station serving the Scottish city of Inverness. It is the terminus of the Highland Main Line, the Aberdeen–Inverness line, the Kyle of Lochalsh line and the Far North Line.
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a railway station on the East Coast Main Line, which runs between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. The station, situated 67 miles (108 km) north-west of Newcastle, serves the border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by London North Eastern Railway.
Dunbar railway station serves the town of Dunbar in East Lothian, Scotland. It is located on the East Coast Main Line and is a two platform station. It is 29 miles 5 chains (46.8 km) from Edinburgh Waverley and 364.092 miles (585.950 km) from London King's Cross.
Dundee railway station serves the city of Dundee on the east coast of Scotland. It is situated on the northern, non-electrified section of the East Coast Main Line, 59+1⁄4 miles (95.4 km) northeast of Edinburgh. Dundee is the tenth busiest station in Scotland. In January 2014, the former main station building was demolished to make way for a new building as part of the Dundee Waterfront Project which opened on 9 July 2018.
Brough railway station serves the town of Brough in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is managed by TransPennine Express, and also served by Northern, Hull Trains and London North Eastern Railway.
Stirling railway station is a railway station located in Stirling, Scotland. It is located on the former Caledonian Railway main line between Glasgow and Perth. It is the junction for the branch line to Alloa and Dunfermline via Kincardine and is also served by trains on the Edinburgh to Dunblane Line and long-distance services to Dundee and Aberdeen and to Inverness via the Highland Main Line.
Dunblane railway station serves the town of Dunblane in central Scotland. It is located on the former Scottish Central Railway, between Stirling and Perth and opened with the line in 1848. It is the northernmost station on the National Rail network to be electrified.
Carluke railway station is a railway station on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) that serves the town of Carluke, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is predominantly served by Argyle Line commuter trains running between Lanark and Glasgow Central. The station lies at the western edge of the town, and enjoys panoramic views of the Clyde Valley and beyond to the hills of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.
Insch railway station is a railway station serving the village of Insch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line, between Inverurie and Huntly, 27 miles 47 chains (44.4 km) from Aberdeen.
Inverkeithing railway station serves the town of Inverkeithing in Fife, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Fife Circle Line, 10 miles (16 km) north west of Edinburgh Waverley. The station is popular with commuters travelling to Edinburgh from Fife and beyond, thanks to its location beside the M90 motorway.
Kirkcaldy railway station is a railway station in the town of Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Fife Circle Line and principal East Coast Main Line, 26 miles (42 km) north east of Edinburgh Waverley. British Transport Police maintain a small office on Platform 1.
Arbroath railway station serves the town of Arbroath in Angus, Scotland. The station is 17 miles (27 km) east of Dundee on the line between Dundee and Aberdeen, between Carnoustie and Montrose. There are two crossovers at the north end of the station, which can be used to facilitate trains turning back if the line south to Carnoustie is blocked. ScotRail, who manage the station, provide most of the services, along with CrossCountry, London North Eastern Railway and Caledonian Sleeper.
Montrose railway station serves the town of Montrose in Angus, Scotland. The station overlooks the Montrose Basin and is situated on the Dundee–Aberdeen line, 90 miles (144 km) north of Edinburgh Waverley, between Arbroath and Laurencekirk. There is a crossover at the north end of the station, which can be used to facilitate trains turning back if the line south to Arbroath is blocked.
Pitlochry railway station is a railway station serving the town of Pitlochry in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is managed by ScotRail and is located on the Highland main line, 28 miles 21 chains (45.5 km) from Perth, between Dunkeld & Birnham and Blair Atholl.