Loch Awe railway station

Loch Awe railway station is a railway station serving the village of Lochawe, on the northern bank of Loch Awe, in western Scotland. This station is on the Oban branch of the West Highland Line, originally part of the Callander and Oban Railway. It is sited 49 miles 48 chains (79.8 km) from Callander via Glen Ogle, between Dalmally and Falls of Cruachan.^[3] ScotRail manage the station and operate all services.

Loch Awe Scottish Gaelic: Loch Obha[1]
An Oban to Glasgow train approaching Loch Awe station
General information
Location	Loch Awe, Argyll and Bute Scotland
Coordinates	56.4021°N 5.0412°W / 56.4021; -5.0412
Grid reference	NN124274
Managed by	ScotRail
Platforms	1
Other information
Station code	LHA[2]
History
Original company	Callander and Oban Railway
Pre-grouping	Callander and Oban Railway operated by Caledonian Railway
Key dates
1 July 1880	Opened
5 May 1902	Second platform brought into use
1 November 1965	Closed
10 May 1985	Re-opened (using the newer platform)
29 May 1988	SC4494 delivered to be a tea room
Passengers
2019/20	5,512
2020/21	4,562
2021/22	7,010
2022/23	8,394
2023/24	7,546
Notes Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

The station seen in 2015, with the old second platform clearly visible

This station was opened on 1 July 1880 by the Callander and Oban Railway when it opened the Dalmally to Oban section of line.^[4][5] The station originally had one platform on a passing loop with sidings on both sides of the line,^[6] but a second platform, on the north side of the loop, was brought into use on 5 May 1902.^{[citation needed]} On 8 August 1897, the station building was destroyed by fire.^[7]

A camping coach was also positioned here by the Scottish Region from 1952 to 1958, and two coaches were here in 1959 and 1960.^[8]

The station closed on 1 November 1965 but reopened on 10 May 1985 using only the more recent platform.^[4] The original platform remains in situ, but disused.

Facilities

The station only comprises a shelter, a help point, a bench and a small car park. There is step-free access 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.

Passenger volume

Passenger Volume at Loch Awe^[10]

	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	2,059	2,446	2,775	2,168	2,321	2,526	2,926	3,160	2,544	2,726	3,034	4,752	4,804	4,140	5,394	5,002	5,512	4,562	7,010	8,394

The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.

Services

There are 6 departures in each direction on weekdays and Saturdays, eastbound to Glasgow Queen Street and westbound to Oban. On weekdays only, an additional service in each direction between Dalmally and Oban calls here in the late afternoon. On Sundays, there are 3 departures each way throughout the year, plus a fourth in the summer months only which operates to Edinburgh Waverley from late June–August.^[11][12]

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Dalmally		ScotRail West Highland Line		Falls of Cruachan or Taynuilt
	Historical railways
Dalmally Line and Station open		Callander and Oban Railway Operated by Caledonian Railway		Falls of Cruachan Line and Station open