The station entrance, October 2010 | |||||
General information | |||||
Location | Fort William, Highland Scotland | ||||
Coordinates | 56°49′15″N5°06′17″W / 56.8207°N 5.1047°W | ||||
Grid reference | NN105741 | ||||
Managed by | ScotRail | ||||
Platforms | 2 | ||||
Other information | |||||
Station code | FTW [2] | ||||
History | |||||
Original company | British Rail | ||||
Key dates | |||||
7 August 1894 | First station opened | ||||
9 June 1975 | First station closed | ||||
13 June 1975 | Present station opened [3] [ page needed ] | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2018/19 | ![]() | ||||
2019/20 | ![]() | ||||
Interchange | 377 | ||||
2020/21 | ![]() | ||||
Interchange | ![]() | ||||
2021/22 | ![]() | ||||
Interchange | ![]() | ||||
2022/23 | ![]() | ||||
Interchange | ![]() | ||||
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Fort William railway station serves the town of Fort William,in the Highland region of Scotland. It is on the West Highland line,between Spean Bridge and Banavie,measured 99 miles 37 chains (160.1 km) from Craigendoran Junction,at the southern end of the line near Helensburgh. [4] The station is managed by ScotRail,who operate most services from the station;Caledonian Sleeper and The Jacobite,an excursion operated by West Coast Railways,also use the station.
The first station was constructed by the West Highland Railway which was later absorbed by the North British Railway. They chose a site for the station alongside the town shipping pier,which required the purchase of a strip of the foreshore. The railway company bought this for £25 (equivalent to £3,500in 2023) [5] an acre. [6] Purchase of this land displaced some people from their houses and the railway company was obliged to provide replacement housing. Other residents realised too late that the railway line cut the town off from the shore and the company responded by providing some wicket gate crossings.
It was opened by the Marchioness of Tweedale,Candida Louisa Bartolucci,wife of the chairman of the North British Railway,William Hay,10th Marquess of Tweeddale [7] on 7 August 1894. They had departed by special train comprising two locomotives and eleven carriages from Glasgow at 8.15am,and arrived in Fort William at 1.30pm. It was sited to the west of the present station on what is now the A82 town bypass,alongside Loch Linnhe at Station Square,at the time in close proximity to then location of the former Caledonian MacBrayne bus station. The old station was a stone built construction featuring a turret and a double arched entranceway and had three platforms. Two of the platforms terminated under the platform canopy,but the third continued past the station,crossing the MacBrayne pier and terminated at the jetty just beyond. [8]
In 1970 the British Railways Board put forward proposals to re-site the station 700 yards (640 m) north of its location to allow the improvements to the A82 to be implemented. [9] The last train from the old station departed on 7 June 1975 [10] and the station closed on 9 June. It was demolished immediately afterwards to permit construction of the bypass. [11]
The present Fort William station of grey concrete construction was opened on 13 June 1975. [11] The current station lies in the shadow of Ben Nevis.
During high winds in February 1980 a brick wall at the station collapsed onto the track and blocked a platform. [12]
Since its opening in 1975,the present Fort William station has been equipped with colour light signals. The signalling is controlled from an 'NX' (entrance-exit) panel in Fort William Junction signal box. The single line between the junction and the station is worked by the Track Circuit Block system,so no tokens are needed for that part of the route.
Refurbishment of the facilities at Fort William railway station was completed in 2007 thanks to a £750,000 investment. [13] The refurbishment includes new shower facilities and refurbished toilets. The shower facilities include two showers for ladies,two for gentlemen and one unisex shower facility for disabled people.[ citation needed ]
The island platform is also equipped with a few shops and restaurants,a ticket office,bike racks,a car park and a taxi rank,and some benches. All areas of the station are step-free. [14]
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 | 115,510 | 120,333 | 121,920 | 134,302 | 135,488 | 138,870 | 135,556 | 145,504 | 144,106 | 139,808 | 138,514 | 155,856 | 160,418 | 139,722 | 22,316 | 114,230 | 145,564 |
Interchanges | 192 | 211 | 247 | 295 | 365 | 414 | 458 | 440 | 387 | 339 | 355 | 393 | 414 | 377 | 39 | 197 | 204 |
The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.
Fort William has three daytime trains per day in each direction on Mondays to Saturdays,running between Glasgow Queen Street and Mallaig. There is also a daily early morning service to Mallaig that starts at Fort William,with a similar return service in the evening,which connects with the Caledonian Sleeper. The regular Sunday service consists of two train per day each way between Glasgow and Mallaig,with the schedule in the peak season supplemented by one service between Fort William and Mallaig.
The Caledonian Sleeper operates six nights per week (not Saturday nights) to and from London Euston,starting and terminating at Fort William. The sleeper also carries seated coaches and can thus be used as a regular service train to/from Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley.
The Jacobite operates non-stop between Fort William and Mallaig. This runs all year round,with a maximum of two trains per day Monday to Saturday and one on Sunday. A reduced Jacobite timetable is operated later in the summer. [16] [17] [18]
Preceding station | ![]() | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Spean Bridge | ScotRail West Highland Line | Banavie | ||
Terminus | Terminus | |||
Spean Bridge | Caledonian Sleeper Highland Caledonian Sleeper | Terminus | ||
![]() | ||||
Mallaig | West Coast Railways The Jacobite | Terminus | ||
Historical railways | ||||
Spean Bridge Line and station open | North British Railway West Highland Railway | Banavie Pier Line mostly open;station closed | ||
Terminus | North British Railway West Highland Railway | |||
Banavie Line and station open | North British Railway Mallaig Extension Railway of West Highland Railway | Terminus |
The West Highland Line is a railway line linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban in the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow in Central Scotland. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009,ahead of the notable Trans-Siberian line in Russia and the Cuzco to Machu Picchu line in Peru. The ScotRail website has since reported that the line has been voted the most scenic railway line in the world for the second year running.
Corrour railway station is on the West Highland Line,near Loch Ossian on the Corrour Estate,in the Highland Region of Scotland. It is the highest mainline railway station in the United Kingdom at an elevation of 1,340 feet (410 m) above sea level. It is located between Rannoch and Tulloch,and is sited 71 miles 54 chains (115.3 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh. ScotRail manage the station and provide most services,along with Caledonian Sleeper.
Oban railway station is a railway station serving Oban in Scotland. It is the terminus of one branch of the highly scenic West Highland Line,sited 71 miles 44 chains (115.1 km) from Callander,via Glen Ogle. It was originally the terminus of the Callander and Oban Railway. All services are operated by ScotRail,who also manage the station.
Upper Tyndrum railway station is one of two railway stations serving the small village of Tyndrum in Scotland. It is on the Fort William route of the scenic West Highland Line,between Crianlarich and Bridge of Orchy,sited 41 miles 25 chains (66.5 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh. Services are operated by ScotRail - who manage the station - and Caledonian Sleeper.
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.
Arrochar and Tarbet railway station is a railway station on the West Highland Line in Scotland. It stands between the villages of Arrochar and Tarbet. It is sited 19 miles 45 chains (31.5 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh,between Ardlui and Garelochhead. ScotRail manage the station and operate most services,with others provided by Caledonian Sleeper.
Helensburgh Upper railway station serves the town of Helensburgh,Scotland,on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde to the west of Glasgow. It is located in a residential area uphill from the town centre and is by far the smaller of the town's two stations. It is on the West Highland Line,2 miles 8 chains (3.4 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh,the first station on the line before Garelochhead. ScotRail manage the station and operate most services,with others provided by Caledonian Sleeper.
Dalmuir railway station is a railway station serving the Dalmuir area of Clydebank,West Dunbartonshire,Scotland. It is a large,five-platform interchange between the Argyle Line,North Clyde Line and West Highland Line,between Singer and Clydebank and Kilpatrick. It is situated 9 miles 71 chains (15.9 km) from Glasgow Queen Street,measured via Westerton and Maryhill.
Ardlui railway station is a rural railway station,serving Ardlui at the north end of Loch Lomond,in Scotland. The station is located on the West Highland Line,sited 27 miles 43 chains (44.3 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh,between Crianlarich and Arrochar and Tarbet. ScotRail manage the station and operate most services,others provided by Caledonian Sleeper.
Arisaig railway station serves the village of Arisaig on the west coast of the Highland region of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line,measured 32 miles 2 chains (51.5 km) from the former Banavie Junction,near Fort William,between Beasdale and Morar on the way to Mallaig. The westernmost station on the Network Rail network,it is the only one of the four cardinal points of the national network that is not a terminus. ScotRail,who manage the station,operate all services.
Crianlarich railway station is a railway station serving the village of Crianlarich in Scotland. It is located on the West Highland Line,sited 41 miles 25 chains (66.5 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh,with Ardlui to the south,and Tyndrum Lower and Upper Tyndrum to the north west,on the routes to Oban and Mallaig respectively,which diverge immediately north of the station. ScotRail,who manage the station,operate most services.
Bridge of Orchy railway station is a railway station in the village of Bridge of Orchy in the west of Scotland. The station is on the West Highland Line,between Rannoch and Upper Tyndrum,48 miles 68 chains (78.6 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh. ScotRail manage the station and operate most services,with others provided by Caledonian Sleeper.
Tulloch railway station is a rural railway station in the remote Tulloch area of the Highland region of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line,between Corrour and Roy Bridge,sited 81 miles 59 chains (131.5 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh.
Roy Bridge railway station is a railway station serving the village of Roybridge in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line,between Tulloch and Spean Bridge,sited 87 miles 35 chains (140.7 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh. ScotRail manage the station and operate most services,along with Caledonian Sleeper.
Spean Bridge railway station is a railway station serving the village of Spean Bridge in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line,between Roy Bridge and Fort William,sited 90 miles 56 chains (146 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh. ScotRail manage the station and operate most services,along with Caledonian Sleeper.
Banavie railway station is a railway station on the West Highland Line serving the village of Banavie,although it is much closer to Caol,Scotland. It is sited between Corpach and Fort William,0 miles 22 chains (0.44 km) from Banavie Junction,just north of Fort William. To continue on to the next station at Corpach,trains must pass over the Caledonian Canal at Neptune's Staircase,a popular tourist attraction. ScotRail provide all services at,and manage,the station.
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. ScotRail,who manage the station,operate all services.
Mallaig railway station is a railway station serving the ferry port of Mallaig,Lochaber,in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is a terminus on the West Highland Line,41 miles (66 km) by rail from Fort William and 164 miles (264 km) from Glasgow Queen Street. The station building is Category C listed. ScotRail,who manage the station,operate most of the services.
Dumbarton Central railway station serves the town of Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire,Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line and the North Clyde Line,15+3⁄4 miles (25.3 km) northwest of Glasgow Queen Street.
Garelochhead railway station is a railway station serving the village of Garelochhead,on the Gare Loch,in Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line and is a boundary station for SPT. It is sited 8 miles 76 chains (14.4 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh,between Arrochar and Tarbet and Helensburgh Upper. ScotRail manage the station and operate most services,with others provided by Caledonian Sleeper.