Forsinard railway station

Forsinard railway station (/ˌfɔːrsɪnˈɑːrd/) is a railway station serving the village of Forsinard in the Highland council area in the north of Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line, 125 miles 69 chains (202.6 kilometres) from Inverness, between Kinbrace and Altnabreac.^[3] The station is managed by ScotRail, who operate the services at the station.

Forsinard Scottish Gaelic: Fors An-Àird[1]
Looking north towards Altnabreac
General information
Location	Forsinard, Highland Scotland
Coordinates	58.3568°N 3.8971°W / 58.3568; -3.8971
Grid reference	NC891425
Managed by	ScotRail
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	FRS[2]
History
Original company	Sutherland and Caithness Railway
Pre-grouping	Highland Railway
Post-grouping	London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
28 July 1874	Opened
Passengers
2018/19	2,530
2019/20	2,866
2020/21	160
2021/22	660
2022/23	936
Notes Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

The station buildings in 2008

The Sutherland and Caithness Railway was authorised in 1871, and the single-track line, which connected Helmsdale with Wick and Thurso, opened on 28 July 1874. One of the original stations was that at Forsinard.^[4][5][6]

From 1 January 1923 the station was owned by the London Midland and Scottish Railway. In September 1925, it was recorded as being 243 miles 34 chains (391.8 km) from Perth, measured via Carrbridge and Inverness station.^[7] The station is 125 miles 69 chains (202.6 km) from Inverness, and has a passing loop 21 chains (420 m) long, flanked by two platforms. Platform 1 on the up (southbound) line can accommodate trains having four coaches, but platform 2 on the down (northbound) line can only hold three.^[8]

The station building is now used by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds as the visitors' centre for the Forsinard Flows National Nature Reserve (which protects part of the Flow Country).^[9]

Facilities

Both platforms have waiting areas and benches, whilst platform 2 (towards Wick) also has bike racks and a help point. There is also a small car park adjacent to platform 2.^[10] As there are no facilities to purchase tickets, passengers must buy one in advance, or from the guard on the train.

Passenger volume

Passenger Volume at Forsinard^[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	1,432	1,674	1,497	1,098	1,256	1,836	1,496	1,770	1,970	2,088	1,718	1,456	1,516	2,124	2,210	2,530	2,866	160	660	936

The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.

Services

A Class 158 at Forsinard Railway Station.

There are four departures per day in each direction, southbound to Dingwall and Inverness and northbound to Wick via Thurso. One train per day each way calls on Sundays.^[12]

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Kinbrace or Kildonan		ScotRail Far North Line		Altnabreac or Georgemas Junction

References

1. Brailsford, Martyn, ed. (December 2017) [1987]. "Gaelic/English Station Index". Railway Track Diagrams 1: Scotland & Isle of Man (6th ed.). Frome: Trackmaps. ISBN 978-0-9549866-9-8.
2. Deaves, Phil. "Railway Codes". railwaycodes.org.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
3. 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. 103. ISBN 978-1909431-26-3.
4. Vallance, H.A.; Clinker, C.R.; Lambert, Anthony J. (1985) [1938]. The Highland Railway (4th ed.). Newton Abbot: David & Charles. p. 37. ISBN 0-946537-24-0.
5. Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 99. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
6. "The Sunderland and Caithness Railway". The Scotsman. British Newspaper Archive. 27 July 1874. Retrieved 14 August 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
7. Vallance, Clinker & Lambert 1985, p. 183
8. Brailsford 2017, map 20D.
9. "Forsinard Flows".
10. "National Rail Enquiries -". www.nationalrail.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
11. "Estimates of station usage | ORR Data Portal". dataportal.orr.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
12. eNRT December 2021 Edition, Table 219

External links

• Train times and station information for Forsinard railway station from National Rail
• RAILSCOT page on Forsinard