Tain railway station is an unstaffed railway station serving the area of Tain in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station is on the Far North Line, 44 miles 23 chains (71.3 km) from Inverness, between Fearn and Ardgay.[5] ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.

Tain

Scottish Gaelic: Baile Dhubhthaich[1]
National Rail
The platforms at Tain station, looking southeast
General information
LocationTain, Highland
Scotland
Coordinates57°48′52″N 4°03′07″W / 57.8144°N 4.0519°W / 57.8144; -4.0519
Grid referenceNH781823
Managed byScotRail
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeTAI[2]
History
Original companyInverness and Ross-shire Railway
Pre-groupingHighland Railway
Post-groupingLMSR
Key dates
1 June 1864[3]Opened
Passengers
2019/20Decrease 28,036
2020/21Decrease 3,522
2021/22Increase 19,664
2022/23Decrease 19,606
2023/24Increase 23,672
Listed Building – Category B
Designated6 October 1978
Reference no.LB41910[4]
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

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In its heyday the station had a staff of approximately thirty people.[citation needed] The station was opened on 1 June 1864 by the Highland Railway.[3] Murdoch Paterson was the engineer involved in the construction of the station (1863–1864).

There have been two engine sheds at Tain in the past: the first was timber-built and originally from Invergordon, which included a turntable. It was re-erected and reopened in June 1864, but burned down on 20 April 1877.[6][page needed] The second was stone-built and opened in 1877. There were no facilities at the shed, although there was a water column and a turntable at the station. It was closed on 18 June 1962, and later demolished.[6][page needed] Both the turntable and the water tank were demolished at a later date, although the pit wall tops of the turntable remain visible.[citation needed] Two signal boxes have also been at the station, one at the north end and one at the south end, although both of these are now demolished.[citation needed]

Facilities

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Both platforms have benches, although only platform 1 has a shelter. There is step-free access to both platforms (from two car parks, 1 adjacent to each platform), although the platforms are connected via a footbridge. The only help point is on platform 2.[7] 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 24 chains (480 m) long, with two platforms. Platform 1 on the southbound line can accommodate trains having seven coaches, whereas platform 2 on the down northbound line can hold eight.[8]

Services

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A ScotRail train at Tain station, with a service bound for Inverness

There are five through trains northbound (four to Wick & Thurso, one to Ardgay) in the December 2021 timetable, and eight trains to Inverness southbound on weekdays & Saturdays. The additional departures to Inverness run mainly in the morning peak & evening and are run primarily for commuters. On Sundays there are four trains to Inverness and a single departure to Wick.[9]

Preceding station   National Rail Following station
Fearn or Invergordon   ScotRail
Far North Line
  Ardgay or
Terminates here
  Historical railways  
Fearn
Line and station open
  Highland Railway
Inverness and Ross-shire Railway
  Meikle Ferry
Line open; Station closed

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. ^ a b Butt 1995, p. 226.
  4. ^ "STATION ROAD RAILWAY STATION". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  5. ^ 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. 102. ISBN 978-1909431-26-3.
  6. ^ a b Griffiths, Roger; Smith, Paul (1999). The directory of British engine sheds and principal locomotive servicing points: Southern England, the Midlands, East Anglia and Wales. Oxford: Sparkford. ISBN 0860935426.
  7. ^ "National Rail Enquiries -". www.nationalrail.co.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  8. ^ Brailsford 2017, map 18D.
  9. ^ eNRT December 2021 Edition, Table 219

Bibliography

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