General information | |||||
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Location | Rannoch, Perth and Kinross Scotland | ||||
Coordinates | 56°41′09″N4°34′37″W / 56.6859°N 4.5770°W | ||||
Grid reference | NN422578 | ||||
Managed by | ScotRail | ||||
Platforms | 2 | ||||
Other information | |||||
Station code | RAN [2] | ||||
History | |||||
Opened | 7 August 1894 | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2019/20 | 7,290 | ||||
2020/21 | 966 | ||||
2021/22 | 6,246 | ||||
2022/23 | 5,818 | ||||
2023/24 | 7,304 | ||||
Listed Building –Category B | |||||
Designated | 21 December 1988 | ||||
Reference no. | LB12245 [3] | ||||
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Rannoch railway station,on the West Highland Line,serves the area of Rannoch in Perth and Kinross,Scotland. In 2017,Simon Jenkins reported it to be one of the best 10 stations in Britain. [4] It is situated between Corrour and Bridge of Orchy,64 miles 36 chains (103.7 km) from Craigendoran Junction,near Helensburgh. [5] ScotRail manage the station and operate most services,along with Caledonian Sleeper.
When the West Highland Line was built across Rannoch Moor,its builders had to float the tracks on a mattress of tree roots,brushwood and thousands of tons of earth and ashes to prevent the heavy steel tracks sinking in the bog.
Rannoch station opened to passengers on 7 August 1894. [6]
The station was laid out with a crossing loop and an island platform. There were sidings on both sides,and a turntable on the east side of the line. [7] The siding on the east side has been removed. The station was host to a LNER camping coach from 1937 to 1939. [8]
On 25 January 1987,the crossing loop was altered to right-hand running. The original Down platform has thus become the Up platform,and vice versa. The change was made in order to simplify shunting at this station,by removing the need to hand-pump the train-operated loop points to access the sidings.
At the north end of the platform is a sculptured head,carved in stone by the navvies (workmen) who built the line. It commemorates James Renton,a director of the West Highland Railway,who gave part of his personal fortune to save the line from bankruptcy during construction when the brushwood raft was continually sinking into Rannoch Moor. [9]
The signal box,which had 17 levers,was situated on the island platform. From the time of its opening in 1894,the West Highland Railway was worked throughout by the electric token system.
In 1967,the method of working between Crianlarich and Rannoch was changed to the Scottish Region Tokenless Block system.
In August 1985,the method of working between Crianlarich and Rannoch reverted to the electric token block system. The semaphore signals were removed on 3 November 1985 in preparation for the introduction of Radio Electronic Token Block (RETB).
The RETB system was commissioned by British Rail between Upper Tyndrum and Fort William Junction on 29 May 1988. This resulted in the closure of Rannoch signal box and others on that part of the line. The RETB is controlled from a Signalling Centre at Banavie railway station.
The Train Protection &Warning System was installed in 2003.
There was formerly another crossing point on Rannoch Moor,at Gorton [10] near where the railway crossed the Rannoch Drove Road,and operationally dividing the long section between Bridge of Orchy and Rannoch stations. It remains today as an engineer's siding but devoid of the original buildings.
Although the railway links the station with Glasgow and Fort William on the West Highland Line,the station area is otherwise more closely linked,by road,with central Highland towns and villages on or near the A9 road. [11] The B846 road meets the A9 between Pitlochry and Blair Atholl,about 34 miles (55 km) east of the station. Its remote location on Rannoch Moor is picturesque and makes it attractive to walkers.
The station is well equipped despite its rural location,with a caféand visitor centre,toilets,a phone and a car park and bike racks. However,the only access is via a stepped footbridge,so the station does not have step-free access. [12] As there are no facilities to purchase tickets,passengers must buy one in advance,or from the guard on the train.
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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Entries and exits | 12,462 | 11,251 | 11,453 | 11,214 | 17,093 | 15,028 | 10,312 | 10,344 | 9,130 | 8,266 | 9,486 | 9,434 | 8,378 | 7,780 | 7,980 | 8,834 | 7,290 | 966 |
The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.
Monday to Saturday,ScotRail operates three services north to Mallaig and three services south to Glasgow Queen Street. On Sundays,this decreases to just two each way. Caledonian Sleeper run six services per week (not Saturday nights) each way to Fort William,and London Euston via Edinburgh. The sleeper also carries seated coaches and can therefore be used by regular passengers to/from stations towards Edinburgh,as it is booked to pick up/set down at some stations. [14] [15] [16]
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Bridge of Orchy | ScotRail West Highland Line | Corrour | ||
Caledonian Sleeper Highland Caledonian Sleeper | ||||
Historical railways | ||||
Gorton | North British Railway West Highland Railway | Corrour |
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 council area 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.
Radio Electronic Token Block is a system of railway signalling used in the United Kingdom. It is a development of the physical token system for controlling traffic on single lines. The system is slightly similar to North American direct traffic control, which unlike RETB does not have a cab display unit.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The West Highland Railway was a railway company that constructed a railway line from Craigendoran to Fort William and Mallaig. The line was built through remote and difficult terrain in two stages: the section from Craigendoran to Fort William opened in 1894, with a short extension to Banavie on the Caledonian Canal opening in 1895.
Crianlarich Lower was a railway station located in Crianlarich, Stirling.
Gorton railway station or Gortan railway station, named for the nearby Meall a Ghortain area of high ground, was a remote rural private railway station on Rannoch Moor, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Opened in 1894 by the North British Railway, it was located at the present day Gorton Crossing engineer's siding where the ancient Rannoch Drove Road crossed the railway line.
Glen Douglas Halt railway station was known as Craggan in the line's construction reports, also Glen Douglas Siding, Glen Douglas Platform (Private), Glen Douglas (Private) and finally Glen Douglas Halt. Opened by the North British Railway in 1894 its status has changed several times along with its official name. The form Glendouglas was also sometimes used, such as on the platform name board.