Place Insch Station code INS 2011/12 93,712 | Grid reference NJ629276 Managed by Abellio ScotRail 2012/13 107,112 Number of platforms 2 | |
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Address Insch AB52 6WN, United Kingdom Similar Inverurie railway station, Huntly railway station, Keith railway station, Leith Hall Garden & Estate, Dunnideer Castle | ||
Insch railway station is a railway station serving the town of Insch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The station is managed by Abellio ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line. It was opened by the Great North of Scotland Railway in 1854, on the route from Aberdeen to Keith.
Contents
The station building accommodates the Insch Connection Museum, which records the history of the railway in Insch and the local region. The station has two platforms, a signal box & a level crossing at its northern end. It is located at the southern end of the only remaining double track section of the line - this runs north as far as Kennethmont before reverting to single track once more.
Future developments
The Scotland Route Utilisation Strategy, published by Network Rail in March 2007, recommends an improved frequency and capacity for passenger services on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line given the high patronage at peak times. Two development options are identified in the report: the provision of additional infrastructure to allow an accelerated hourly service; and platform extensions to permit six-car operation. If the latter were implemented, the platforms at Insch railway station would be extended by 17 metres. Transport Scotland agreed to fund a £170 million infrastructure upgrade for the route in 2014 that includes the aforementioned platform lengthening work here. Other upgrades include signalling and level crossing modernisation work, 2 additional stations at Dalcross & Kintore, relocating the station at Forres and redoubling the Inverurie to Aberdeen section. The project is due to be completed by 2019.
Services
There is a basic two-hourly frequency in each directions (with peak extras), to Inverness via Elgin northbound and Aberdeen southbound (11 trains each way in total). The first departure to Aberdeen each weekday & Saturday continues south to Edinburgh Waverley and there is a return working in the evening. On Sundays there are five trains each way, with a southbound through working to Glasgow Queen Street.