General information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location | Nairn, Highland Scotland | ||||
Coordinates | 57°34′49″N3°52′18″W / 57.5803°N 3.8716°W | ||||
Grid reference | NH881560 | ||||
Managed by | ScotRail | ||||
Platforms | 2 | ||||
Other information | |||||
Station code | NRN [2] | ||||
History | |||||
Original company | Inverness and Nairn Railway and Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway | ||||
Pre-grouping | Highland Railway | ||||
Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway | ||||
Key dates | |||||
7 November 1855 [3] | Opened | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2019/20 | 0.135 million | ||||
2020/21 | 46,324 | ||||
2021/22 | 0.101 million | ||||
2022/23 | 0.102 million | ||||
2023/24 | 0.134 million | ||||
Listed Building –Category B | |||||
Designated | 12 March 1981 | ||||
Reference no. | LB38454 [4] | ||||
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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. [5] It is a category B listed building. [4]
The station was first opened on 7 November 1855 by the Inverness and Nairn Railway. [6] [7] In 1857,the line was extended eastwards to Dalvey. The route from Aberdeen to Inverness was merged into one company,the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway,in 1861. [8]
In 1885 the Highland Railway Company agreed to improve the facilities at Nairn. The station buildings were replaced with improved accommodation for passenger and staff. [9] The gables of the cross wings were surmounted with the Scotch thistle,the Prince of Wales feather,and other designs sculpted in stone. The masonry work was completed by Mr. Squair of Nairn. At the same time a new station master’s house was erected. The platforms were extended to around 440 yards (400 m) and raised in height to the level of the carriages. A new iron foot bridge over the line connected the platforms,avoiding passengers using a foot crossing over the running lines. The bridge over Cawdor Road was also widened at the same time. [10] The work was completed in 1886. [11]
The station was notable for being the last working example of Highland Railway signalling principles,where a signal box was provided at each end to work the signals &points whilst the key token instruments for working the single line were located in the main building. The distance between the boxes was such that a bicycle was officially provided by BR (and later Railtrack) for the signaller to use. [12]
Control of the signalling at the station has since transferred to a new workstation in the Inverness signalling centre,following a 10-day line closure that also saw the loop at Elgin lengthened and a new station and loop commissioned at Forres. [13] A replacement bus service ran whilst the work was in progress,with the line reopening on schedule on 17 October 2017.
The station has a ticket office,ticket machine and accessible toilet on platform 1,adjacent to some bike racks and one of the car parks. The other is adjacent to platform 2,which is equipped with a flower shop and a help point. There is step-free access to both platforms,but not between them,as the bridge linking them does not have lifts. [14]
The station is 128 miles 72 chains (207.4 km) from Perth (measured via Dava),and has a passing loop 29 chains (580 m) long,flanked by two platforms which can each accommodate an eight-coach train. [15]
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 | 71,742 | 80,626 | 85,488 | 75,353 | 70,454 | 75,490 | 83,980 | 101,182 | 111,748 | 112,014 | 116,768 | 127,180 | 130,174 | 120,504 | 112,142 | 117,780 | 134,518 | 46,324 | 100,752 | 101,642 |
The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.
As of May 2022,there are seventeen daily departures from the station each way on weekdays and Saturdays. Most are through trains between Aberdeen and Inverness,but some trains start from or terminate at Elgin. One departure runs through to Edinburgh in the morning,and one in the evening runs to Stonehaven. On Sundays there are five through trains each way to Inverness and Aberdeen,with two more from Glasgow to Elgin via Inverness that call eastbound. [17]
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Forres | ScotRail Aberdeen–Inverness line | Inverness Airport | ||
Historical railways | ||||
Connection to Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway | Inverness and Nairn Railway | Gollanfield Junction Line open; Station closed | ||
Auldearn Line open; Station closed | Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway | Connection to Inverness and Nairn Railway |
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 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.
The Aberdeen–Inverness line is a railway line in Scotland linking Aberdeen and Inverness. It is not electrified. Most of the line is single-track, other than passing places and longer double-track sections between Insch and Kennethmont and Inverurie and Berryden Junction (Aberdeen).
Ardgay railway station is a railway station serving the village of Ardgay and its neighbour Bonar Bridge in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station is on the Far North Line, 57 miles 70 chains (93.1 km) from Inverness, between Tain and Culrain. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.
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.
Elgin railway station is a railway station serving the town of Elgin, Moray in Scotland. The station is managed and served by ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line, between Keith and Forres, measured 12 miles 18 chains (19.7 km) from Forres.
Keith railway station is a railway station serving the town of Keith, Moray, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line, between Huntly and Elgin, measured 53 miles 8 chains (85.5 km) from Aberdeen, or 30 miles 20 chains (48.7 km) from Forres.
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.
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.
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 from Perth, between Aviemore and Inverness.
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.
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.
The Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway (I&AJR) was a railway company in Scotland, created to connect other railways and complete the route between Inverness and Aberdeen. The Inverness and Nairn Railway had opened to the public on 7 November 1855 and the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNoSR) was building from Aberdeen to Keith. The I&AJR opened, closing the gap, on 18 August 1856.