Station code FOC 2011/12 260 Number of platforms 1 | Grid reference NN079267 2012/13 244 | |
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Address Dalmally PA33 1AN, United Kingdom Similar Cruachan Power Station, Connel Ferry railway st, Tyndrum Lower railway st, Taynuilt railway station, Locheilside railway station | ||
Falls of cruachan railway station west highland line
Falls of Cruachan railway station is a railway station located at the foot of Ben Cruachan in Scotland. This station is on the Oban branch of the West Highland Line, originally part of the Callander and Oban Railway.
Contents
- Falls of cruachan railway station west highland line
- Loch awe and cruachan in scotland
- Services
- History
- Reopening
- Signalling
- Accidents
- References
Loch awe and cruachan in scotland
Services
Services are operated by Abellio ScotRail.
The station is used mainly by hikers in the warmer months, who walk past the falls to climb Ben Cruachan. It is open only during the spring and summer months (March to October); this period formerly coincided with the summer timetable, before the timetable change date moved from September to December.
History
The station (on the lower slopes of Ben Cruachan, above Loch Awe) opened on 1 October 1893 with a single platform on the south side of the line. It was closed on 1 November 1965.
Reopening
The station was reopened on 20 June 1988 by BR's West Highland Area Business Group, at a cost of just £10,000 – achieved by collecting "dumped" concrete sleepers from the lineside all over the Highlands and having them stacked at the site of the old station here. They were topped by slabs, and BR's Business Manager Highland, Callum MacLeod persuaded the then Strathclyde Regional Council to rebuild the footpath down to the A85 and to install a pavement from there to the Cruachan Power Station Visitors Centre about 300 yards away. There is no station lighting, so trains call during daylight hours only. Col. Dalziel, retiring as Chairman of the Scottish TUCC, performed the opening ceremony. Some years later, a shelter and better signing were added to the halt.
Services
Four eastbound and five westbound trains stop here on weekdays and Saturdays when the station is operational, along with four each way on Sundays.
Signalling
Although Falls of Cruachan station has never had any signalling directly associated with it, its platform falls within the four mile stretch of railway that is protected by the Pass of Brander stone signals.
Accidents
On 6 June 2010, a two carriage train from Glasgow to Oban derailed near Falls of Cruachan station. The train derailed shortly before 8.53pm and was left balanced precariously on a 15-metre embankment. There was briefly a minor fire. Sixty passengers had been on board the train, but all were safely evacuated down the line to the station with no major injuries. Nine people were injured. The train hit a boulder that had fallen onto the track.