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Muir of Ord railway station

Coordinates: 57°31′03″N 4°27′37″W / 57.5175°N 4.4602°W / 57.5175; -4.4602
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Muir of Ord

Scottish Gaelic: Am Blàr Dubh[1]
National Rail
The view south from the station in 2015
General information
LocationMuir of Ord, Highland
Scotland
Coordinates57°31′03″N 4°27′37″W / 57.5175°N 4.4602°W / 57.5175; -4.4602
Grid referenceNH527501
Managed byScotRail
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeMOO[2]
History
Original companyInverness and Ross-shire Railway
Pre-groupingHighland Railway
Post-groupingLMS
Key dates
11 June 1862Opened[3]
13 June 1960Closed
4 October 1976Reopened
Passengers
2019/20Increase 70,850
2020/21Decrease 13,556
2021/22Increase 41,230
2022/23Increase 47,688
2023/24Increase 52,306
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Muir of Ord railway station is a railway station on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line and the Far North Line, serving the village of Muir of Ord in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station is 13 miles 4 chains (13.05 mi; 21.0 km) from Inverness, between Beauly and Conon Bridge, and is the location of the sole remaining passing loop on the single line between Dingwall and Inverness.[4]

History

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The Lochalsh Highlander, seen at Muir of Ord in 2013

Muir of Ord railway station was once the junction of a branch railway to Fortrose. The station building and platform canopy were erected in 1894,[5] 32 years after the station itself opened.[6] Passenger services on the branch ceased on 1 October 1951, but the branch remained open for freight until 13 June 1960. Muir of Ord station was closed on 13 June 1960 but reopened in 1976, on 4 October.[6]

After the railway bridge across the River Ness washed away in February 1989, isolating the entire network north of Inverness, Muir of Ord was chosen as the location for a temporary depot, from which the stranded rolling stock could operate the service to the highland communities which depended on the line.[7]

In November 2015, work commenced on a new A862 road bridge at the northern end of the station.[8]

Facilities

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Both platforms have modern waiting shelters and benches, with step-free access. There is a car park and bike racks adjacent to platform 1, along with a help point near to the entrance from the car park.[9] As there are no facilities to purchase tickets, passengers must buy one in advance, or from the guard on the train.

Platform layout

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The station has a passing loop 32 chains (700 yd; 640 m) long, flanked by two platforms which can each accommodate a ten-coach train.[10]

Passenger volume

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Passenger Volume at Muir of Ord[11]
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 22,055 24,365 24,783 32,573 39,200 51,104 57,396 62,428 74,462 74,064 72,832 66,576 66,480 64,480 64,820 67,554 70,850 13,556 41,230 47,688

The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.

Services

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A First ScotRail service approaching Muir of Ord with a service bound for Inverness

As of the December 2021 timetable, on weekdays and Saturdays, the station sees 12 trains northbound (4 to Wick via Thurso, 4 to Kyle of Lochalsh, 1 to Dingwall, 1 to Invergordon, 1 to Ardgay and 1 to Tain), and 14 trains southbound to Inverness. On Sundays, the station sees 6 trains northbound (1 to Wick, 1 to Kyle of Lochalsh, 1 to Invergordon and 3 to Tain), and 6 trains southbound.[12]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Beauly or
Inverness 		  ScotRail
Far North Line
Kyle of Lochalsh Line 		  Conon Bridge
or Dingwall
  Historical railways  
Beauly   Highland Railway
Inverness and Ross-shire Railway
   Conon
Terminus   Highland Railway
Fortrose Branch
   Redcastle

References

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  1. ^ Brailsford 2017, Gaelic/English Station Index.
  2. ^ Deaves, Phil. "Railway Codes". railwaycodes.org.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  3. ^ Butt (1995)
  4. ^ Bridge, Mike, ed. (2017). TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain: A Comprehensive Geographic Atlas Showing the Rail Network of Great Britain (3rd ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. p. 99. ISBN 978-1909431-26-3.
  5. ^ The Buildings of Scotland, Highland and Islands. John Gifford. Yale University Press. 1992. ISBN 0-300-09625-9
  6. ^ a b Quick 2022, p. 327.
  7. ^ Caton, Peter (2018). Remote Stations. Leicestershire: Matador. p. 242. ISBN 978-1-78901-408-2.
  8. ^ Rooney, Richard (14 October 2015). "Work to start next month on vital Highland bridge replacement". Press and Journal. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  9. ^ "National Rail Enquiries -". www.nationalrail.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  10. ^ Brailsford 2017, map 18C.
  11. ^ "Estimates of station usage | ORR Data Portal". dataportal.orr.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  12. ^ eNRT December 2021 Edition, Table 219

Bibliography

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