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Dalcross was a railway station located at Dalcross, to the east of Inverness, Scotland (now in the Highland Council Area). It opened in 1855 and closed in 1965. A new station in Dalcross was proposed in the early 21st century, and was projected to open in 2019, but has been set back to the 2020s. The station is currently under construction and is projected to open in 2022.

Dalcross
General information
Location	Dalcross, Highland Scotland
Coordinates	57.5267°N 4.0707°W / 57.5267; -4.0707
Grid reference	NH761503
Platforms	2
Other information
Status	Under Construction
History
Original company	Inverness and Nairn Railway
Pre-grouping	Highland Railway
Post-grouping	London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
5 November 1855[1]	Opened
3 May 1965[1]	Closed
December 2022	Proposed reopening

Original station

The Inverness and Nairn Railway was formally opened on 5 November 1855, public services beginning the following day,[2] and Dalcross was one of the four intermediate stations originally provided.[3] In September 1925, the distances of the station were given as 137 miles 10 chains (220.7 km) from Perth (measured via Dava), and 48 miles 6 chains (77.4 km) from Keith Junction.[4]

Dalcross station closed on 3 May 1965,[1] and the signal box closed on 12 March 1967.[5] The station building remains however and is now a private residence. The level crossing at the eastern end of the station is now equipped with automatic half-barriers, and is 137 miles 17 chains (220.8 km) from Perth (via Dava).[6]

Proposed new station

In June 2006 a proposal was announced to open a new station at Dalcross,[7] which would serve Inverness Airport and also provide park-and-ride facilities for commuters to Inverness,[8] relieving road congestion to the east of Inverness,[9] and so helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.[10] The proposal was still open in 2010, and it was specified that the station could have one platform on the north side of the line, 150 metres (490 ft) long, enough for a six-carriage Class 170 train. The proposed location of the station was given as having an eastern end at an overbridge at 136 miles 38 chains (219.6 km) (grid reference NH770511), extending westward to 136 miles 46 chains (219.8 km). There was also the possibility of providing a passing loop, which could not extend further west than the level crossing; a second platform would be built on the south side of the loop.[11] In February 2011, Keith Brown, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure in the Scottish Government, stated that discussions on the proposed station (and another at Kintore) were being held between Transport Scotland and Network Rail.[12] A £170 million infrastructure upgrade project for the line, funded by Transport Scotland, was announced in 2014. Provision for station reopenings here and at Kintore were included in the plans, along with signalling & track improvements, relocation of the station at Forres and platform extension works along the route.[13]

The station was intended to open by 2019,[14] but construction didn't start as expected in 2017, and the station is now expected to open in the first half of Network Rail's Control Period 6, which runs from 2019 to 2024.[15]

Network Rail submitted an updated planning application in December 2020 for a two-platform station with step-free access to both platforms.[16] The airport is also exploring the possibility of relocating its terminal to be beside the planned railway station.

The final plans for station include two platforms, a 64 space car park with 10 electric bays, four disabled bays and cycle paths and two lifts will be installed. A passing loop will be included. Two buses an hour will connect the station with the airport. The Petty level crossing will also close.[17]

Construction

In October 2021, ground works associated with the station as well as embankments commenced. The main platforms, lift shafts and associated works for the footbridge are projected to begin in early 2022. The station is due to open in December 2022.[17][18]

Services

Preceding station	Future services			Following station
Nairn		ScotRail Aberdeen–Inverness line		Inverness
	Historical railways
Gollanfield Junction Station closed; Line open		Inverness and Nairn Railway		Castle Stuart Platform Station closed; Line open

References

Sources

• Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
• Catford, Nick (20 April 2010). "Dalcross Station". Disused Stations. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
• Pringle, Gordon (22 October 2010). "Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvement" (PDF). Network Rail. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
• Vallance, H.A.; Clinker, C.R.; Lambert, Anthony J. (1985) [1938]. The Highland Railway (4th ed.). Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0-946537-24-0.
• Yonge, John (December 2007) [1987]. Jacobs, Gerald (ed.). Railway Track Diagrams 1: Scotland & Isle of Man (5th ed.). Bradford on Avon: Trackmaps. ISBN 978-0-9549866-3-6.
• "Rail Users Group - Issues for Consideration by HITRANS RAG Meeting". The Friends of the Far North Line - Newsletter. May 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
• "Strategic Transport Projects Review - Report 3 Generation, Sifting and Appraisal of Interventions - Annex 2" (PDF). Transport Scotland. 18 November 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
• "Talks on new rail stations at Kintore and Dalcross". BBC News Highlands & Islands. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.

External links

• RAILSCOT on Inverness and Nairn Railway
• Dalcross Station on navigable 1948 O.S. map
• Disused Stations - Dalcross
• Inverness Airport Station & Dalcross Area Enhancements project page

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