General information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location | Carrbridge, Highland Scotland | ||||
Coordinates | 57°16′46″N3°49′41″W / 57.2794°N 3.8280°W | ||||
Grid reference | NH899224 | ||||
Managed by | ScotRail | ||||
Platforms | 2 | ||||
Other information | |||||
Station code | CAG [2] | ||||
History | |||||
Original company | Highland Railway | ||||
Pre-grouping | Highland Railway | ||||
Post-grouping | London Midland and Scottish Railway | ||||
Key dates | |||||
8 July 1892 | Opened as Carr Bridge | ||||
16 May 1983 | Renamed as Carrbridge | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2019/20 | 5,474 | ||||
2020/21 | 1,622 | ||||
2021/22 | 3,714 | ||||
2022/23 | 4,840 | ||||
2023/24 | 6,544 | ||||
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Carrbridge railway station serves the village of Carrbridge,Highland,Scotland. The railway station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Highland Main Line,90 miles (140 kilometres) from Perth,between Aviemore and Inverness. [3]
The station was opened on 8 July 1892 when the Highland Railway opened the line from Aviemore. [4]
Services northbound started on 8 July 1897 when the line to Daviot was opened,the line through to Inverness opened on 1 November 1898. [5]
The station was built with a passing loop on the otherwise single track railway,a signal box (automatic token-exchange apparatus was used) and several sidings on the north side of the line. [6] [7]
The station building is thought to be by the architect William Roberts,dating from 1898. [8] A camping coach was positioned here by the Scottish Region from 1954 to 1965. [9]
There have been two accidents at Carrbridge,one in 1914 and another in 2010.
On the afternoon of 18 June 1914,a tremendous thunderstorm struck the mountains to the north of the Highland Main Line. The road bridge carrying the road from Carrbridge to Inverness across the Baddengorm Burn was swept away,while further down the valley the burn entered a narrow gorge,crossed by the railway by means of a narrow arch span of only 15 ft (4.6 m). The water was at rail level when the six-carriage 11:50 Perth to Inverness train,9 minutes late leaving Carrbridge Station at 15:24,crossed the bridge. The first two carriages reached the other side but the bridge then gave way,its foundations having been undermined by a vortex of water. The third carriage was left on the north bank of the burn but the next was plunged into the torrent which soon demolished the carriage,drowning five passengers;remarkably four survived. [10]
The enquiry laid no blame on the designers of the bridge as they could not have foreseen such a volume and force of water,which had never before occurred in the area. The bridge was rebuilt with a longer,concrete,span.
On 4 January 2010,a freight train from Inverness to Grangemouth,hauled by a DB Schenker Class 66 for Stobart Rail,derailed on the 1 in 60 (1.67%) gradient down from Slochd Summit at the run out or trap points at the northern end of the station,and ran down an embankment. The driver and technician on the train suffered minor injuries. The line was not reopened until 13 January. [11] [12] [13]
The RAIB report found the cause was found to be snow and ice that worked its way into the space between the wheels' brake blocks. This may have also interfered with other parts of the brake mechanisms on the freight wagons. It was also found that the way the driver performed running brake tests while on the trip contributed to the outcome. Other possible contributing factors were that ploughed snow may have been allowed to accumulate too close to the tracks,thus the train passing these snowbanks at speed may have pulled snow into the brake mechanisms. [14]
The station has a car park,with bike racks,but is not permanently staffed. Flowering shrubs on the platforms are tended by volunteers as part of an 'adopt a station' initiative. [15] Platform 1 has a specific waiting shelter,whilst passengers on platform 2 have to make do with the station buildings. Both platforms also have benches,whilst platform 2 also has a help point. Only platform 2 has step-free access - platform 1 can only be reached via the footbridge. [16] As there are no facilities to purchase tickets,passengers must buy one in advance,or from the guard on the train.
It has a passing loop 30 chains (600 m) long,flanked by two platforms which can each accommodate a thirteen-coach train. [17]
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 | 1,531 | 1,910 | 2,987 | 3,954 | 5,438 | 3,796 | 4,500 | 5,118 | 5,636 | 4,454 | 5,540 | 6,256 | 6,898 | 5,808 | 6,064 | 5,584 | 5,474 | 1,622 | 3,714 | 4,840 |
The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.
As of May 2022,there are 7 northbound trains per day to Inverness and 6 southbound trains per day to Perth,the latter continuing mostly to Glasgow Queen Street,with one continuing to Edinburgh. 4 trains call each way on Sundays,including the southbound Highland Chieftain to London King's Cross. [19]
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Aviemore | London North Eastern Railway Sunday &Southbound Only | Inverness | ||
Aviemore | ScotRail Highland Main Line | Inverness | ||
Aviemore | Caledonian Sleeper Northbound,weekdays only | Inverness | ||
Historical railways | ||||
Aviemore Line and station open | Highland Railway Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway | Tomatin Line open; station closed |
The Highland Railway (HR) was one of the smaller British railways before the Railways Act 1921, operating north of Perth railway station in Scotland and serving the farthest north of Britain. Based in Inverness, the company was formed by merger in 1865, absorbing over 249 miles (401 km) of line. It continued to expand, reaching Wick and Thurso in the north and Kyle of Lochalsh in the west, eventually serving the counties of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty, Inverness, Perth, Nairn, Moray and Banff. Southward it connected with the Caledonian Railway at Stanley Junction, north of Perth, and eastward with the Great North of Scotland Railway at Boat of Garten, Elgin, Keith and Portessie.
The Strathspey Railway (SR) in Badenoch and Strathspey, Highland, Scotland, operates a ten-mile (16 km) heritage railway from Aviemore to Broomhill, Highland via Boat of Garten, part of the former Inverness and Perth Junction Railway which linked Aviemore with Forres. It is one of only a handful of former primary/secondary main lines to be preserved in Britain today.
The Highland Main Line is a railway line in Scotland. It is 118 mi (190 km) long and runs through the central Scottish Highlands, mainly following the route of the A9, and linking a series of small towns and villages with Perth at one end and Inverness at the other. Today, services between Inverness and Edinburgh, Glasgow and London use the line. At Inverness the line connects with the Far North Line, the Aberdeen-Inverness Line and the Kyle of Lochalsh Line. Since the line is not electrified all trains are diesel-powered.
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.
Dingwall railway station serves Dingwall, Scotland. It is located just south of the junction of the Far North Line and the Kyle of Lochalsh Line, and is managed and served by ScotRail. The station is 18 miles 58 chains (30.1 km) from Inverness, and is the zero point for the Kyle of Lochalsh Line. It is sited after Conon Bridge heading northbound, with the next station being either Garve or Alness.
Aviemore railway station serves the town and tourist resort of Aviemore in the Highlands of Scotland. The station, which is owned by Network Rail (NR) and managed by ScotRail, is on the Highland Main Line, 83 miles 31 chains from Perth, between Kingussie and Carrbridge, and is also the southern terminus of the Strathspey preserved railway.
Inverness railway station serves 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.
Forsinard railway station is a railway station serving the village of Forsinard in the Highland council area in the north of Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line, 125 miles 69 chains from Inverness, between Kinbrace and Altnabreac. The station is managed by ScotRail, who operate the services at the station.
Georgemas Junction railway station is a railway station located in the Highland council area in the far north of Scotland. It serves several rural hamlets in the historic county of Caithness, including Georgemas, Roadside and Banniskirk. It is also the nearest station to the village of Halkirk, which lies approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west of the station.
Thurso railway station is a railway station located in Thurso, in the Highland council area in the far north of Scotland. It serves the town and its surrounding areas, along with ferry services linking the mainland with Stromness on the Orkney Islands.
Nairn railway station is a railway station serving the town of Nairn in Scotland. The station is managed and served by ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line, between Forres and Inverness Airport, measured 128 miles 72 chains (207.4 km) from Perth via the former Dava route. It is a category B listed building.
Forres railway station serves the town of Forres, Moray in Scotland. The station is managed and served by ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen–Inverness line, between Nairn and Elgin, measured 119 miles 42 chains (192.4 km) from Perth via the Dava route.
Dunkeld & Birnam railway station serves the town of Dunkeld and village of Birnam in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is located on the Highland Main Line, 15 miles 31 chains (24.8 km) north of Perth and is the first stop on the line north of there, before Pitlochry. Most services are operated by ScotRail, who also manage the station. LNER and Caledonian Sleeper also call some services here.
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.
Kingussie railway station serves the town of Kingussie, Inverness-shire in the Highland Council Area of Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Highland Main Line, 71 miles 43 chains (115.1 km) from Perth, between Newtonmore and Aviemore.
Newtonmore railway station serves the village of Newtonmore, Highland, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Highland Main Line. The station is 68 miles 62 chains (110.7 km) from Perth, between Dalwhinnie and Kingussie, and has a single platform which is long enough for a ten-coach train. It is currently the only station on the Highland Main Line to have one platform, although the former second platform can still be seen adjacent to the first platform.
Dalwhinnie railway station is a railway station serving the village of Dalwhinnie, Highland, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Highland Main Line, 58 miles 47 chains (94.3 km) from Perth, between Blair Atholl and Newtonmore. There is a crossover at the south end of the station to allow trains to turn back if the line north to Newtonmore is closed.
The Inverness and Nairn Railway was a railway company that operated between the burghs in the company name. It opened its line in 1855 and its passenger business was instantly successful. At first it was not connected to any other line. However it was seen as a first step towards connecting Inverness and Central Scotland, via Aberdeen and when feasible, directly southwards.
The Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway was a section of railway built by the Highland Railway to provide a shorter and more direct route between Inverness and Aviemore, carrying its main line traffic to Perth and the south.
The Inverness and Perth Junction Railway (I&PJR) was a railway company that built a line providing a more direct route between Inverness and the south for passengers and goods. Up to the time of its opening, the only route was a circuitous way through Aberdeen. The I&PJR was built from a junction with the friendly Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway at Forres to the Perth and Dunkeld Railway at Dunkeld.