Fort William railway station

Infobox UK station
name = Fort William
other_name = An Gearasdan
code = FTW

---

manager = First ScotRail
locale = Fort William
borough = Highland
latitude = 56.820
longitude = -5.106
lowusage0405 = 114,211
lowusage0506 = 115,417
lowusage0607 = 115,510
platforms = 2
original = British Railways
years = 13 June 1975
events = Station openedButt (1995)]
years1 =
events1 =|

Fort William railway station is a railway station serving the town of Fort William in the Highland region of Scotland.

History

The present Fort William station opened on 13 June 1975. It replaced the original terminus which was further west and alongside Loch Linnhe at Station Square, in close proximity to Macbraynes bus station and pier. The old station was a stone built construction featuring a turret and a double arched entranceway. The station had three platforms, and was demolished to make way for a new road. The station lies in the shadow of Ben Nevis. The present station buildings are an unattractive 1970s grey concrete construction.

The station is on the West Highland Line and the starting point for "The Jacobite", the only scheduled steam hauled train to run on the mainline in Great Britain.

Refurbishment of the facilities at Fort William railway station have recentlyFact|date=September 2008 been completed thanks to a £750,000 investment. The refurbishment includes new shower facilities and refurbished toilets. The shower facilities include two showers for ladies, two for gentlemen and one unisex shower facility for disabled people. Use of these shower facilities is free of charge for first class Caledonian Sleeper ticket holders and costs £3.50 for standard passengers and station users.

Anyone wishing to use the showers also receives a towel to use once they are finished showering, which is then returned to the staff in charge of the maintenance of the showers. The showers themselves are private cubicles to allow maximum possible privacy for customers.

Services

The Caledonian Sleeper starts and terminates here.

As part of the West Highland Line, the station sees 6 trains in each direction per day, being 4 standard trains, "The Jacobite" and the Caledonian Sleeper. Of the standard First ScotRail trains, 3 a day run from Glasgow via Fort William and on to Mallaig, with one running just from Fort William to Mallaig, timed to connect with the Caledonian Sleeper. "The Jacobite" runs from Fort William to Mallaig during the summer months, only stopping at Glenfinnan and Arisaig. Finally, the Caledonian Sleeper arrives early-morning from London via Edinburgh, and leaves early-evening along the same route.

rail line two to one
next =
previous1 = Spean Bridge
previous2 = Banavie
route1 = First ScotRail
West Highland Line
route2 = First ScotRail
West Highland Line
col = ff80c0rail line
next =
previous = Spean Bridge
route = First ScotRail
Highland Caledonian Sleeper
col = ff80c0rail line
next =
previous = Glenfinnan
route = West Coast Railway Company
"The Jacobite"
May-October
col = 800000rail line two to one
next =
previous1 = Spean Bridge
Line and Station open
previous2 = Banavie Pier
Line mostly open; station closed
route1 = North British Railway

West Highland Railway
route2 = North British Railway

West Highland Railway
col = NBR colour rail line
next =
previous = Banavie
Line and Station open
route = North British Railway

Mallaig Extension Railway of West Highland Railway
col = NBR colour
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Signalling

Since its opening in 1975, the present Fort William station has been equipped with colour light signals. The signalling is controlled from an 'NX' (entrance-exit) panel in Mallaig Junction signal box (now named 'Fort William Junction'). The single line between the junction and the station is worked by the Track Circuit Block system, so no tokens are needed for that part of the route.

References

Notes

Sources

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*
*
* [http://www.railbrit.co.uk/West_Highland_Railway/frame.htm RAILSCOT on West Highland Railway]
* [http://www.railscot.co.uk/Mallaig_Extension_Railway/frame.htm RAILSCOT on Mallaig Extension Railway]
* [http://treintjes.fotki.com/extra_bureaubladen/schotland_2006/ Photographs of a steam train at the station]