Place Dalcross Grid reference NH761503 5 November 1855 Opened | Area Highland Pre-grouping Highland Railway Platforms in use 2 | |
 | ||
Post-grouping London, Midland and Scottish Railway Original company Inverness and Nairn Railway Similar Forres railway station, Inverness railway station, Aberdeen railway station, Coronation Chair | ||
Dalcross (Scottish Gaelic: Steisean Dealgros) was a railway station located at Dalcross, to the east of Inverness, Scotland (now in the Highland Council Area). It opened in 1855 and closed in 1965. A new station in Dalcross was proposed in the early 21st century, and is currently projected to open in 2019.
Contents
Original station
The Inverness and Nairn Railway was formally opened on 5 November 1855, public services beginning the following day, and Dalcross was one of the four intermediate stations originally provided. In September 1925, the distances of the station were given as 137 miles 10 chains (220.7 km) from Perth (measured via Dava), and 48 miles 6 chains (77.4 km) from Keith Junction.
Dalcross station closed on 3 May 1965, and the signal box closed on 12 March 1967. The station building remains however and is now a private residence. The level crossing at the eastern end of the station is now equipped with automatic half-barriers, and is 137 miles 17 chains (220.8 km) from Perth (via Dava).
Proposed new station
In June 2006 a proposal was announced to open a new station at Dalcross, which would serve Inverness Airport and also provide park-and-ride facilities for commuters to Inverness, relieving road congestion to the east of Inverness, and so helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The proposal was still open in 2010, and it was specified that the station could have one platform on the north side of the line, 150 metres (490 ft) long, enough for a six-car Class 170 train. The proposed location of the station was given as having an eastern end at an overbridge at 136 miles 38 chains (219.6 km) (grid reference NH770511), extending westward to 136 miles 46 chains (219.8 km). There was also the possibility of providing a passing loop, which could not extend further west than the level crossing; a second platform would be built on the south side of the loop. In February 2011, Keith Brown, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure in the Scottish Government, stated that discussions on the proposed station (and another at Kintore) were being held between Transport Scotland and Network Rail. A £170 million infrastructure upgrade project for the line, funded by Transport Scotland, was announced in 2014. Provision for station reopenings here and at Kintore were included in the plans, along with signalling & track improvements, relocation of the station at Forres and platform extension works along the route.
The station is proposed to open by 2019.