Connel Ferry railway station

Connel Ferry railway station is a railway station serving the village of Connel in western Scotland. This station is on the Oban branch of the West Highland Line, originally part of the Callander and Oban Railway, between Oban and Taynuilt, sited 65 miles 30 chains (105.2 km) from Callander via Glen Ogle.^{[4][page needed]} All services are operated by ScotRail, who also manage the station.

Connel Ferry Scottish Gaelic: Aiseag na Coingheil[1]
General information
Location	Connel, Argyll and Bute Scotland
Coordinates	56.4524°N 5.3834°W / 56.4524; -5.3834
Grid reference	NM916340
Managed by	ScotRail
Line(s)	West Highland Line Ballachulish branch line
Platforms	1
Other information
Station code	CON[2]
History
Original company	Callander and Oban Railway
Pre-grouping	Callander and Oban Railway operated by Caledonian Railway
Key dates
1 July 1880[3]	Opened
Passengers
2019/20	7,220
2020/21	14,552
2021/22	15,630
2022/23	18,620
2023/24	22,348
Location
Notes Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

The station seen in 1994

The station was opened in either 1880^[5][6] or 1903,^[7] and in its heyday, when it served a branch to Ballachulish, it had three platforms, a goods yard and a turntable. Later this was reduced to just the single platform, after the branch closed in 1966,^[6] as it remains today.^[5]

Accidents and incidents

During the 1968 demolition of Connel Ferry West signal box, contractors burning the wooden remains set fire to the track formation. Despite efforts to put the fire out, it continued to burn for several days, causing the embankment to crumble and smoke to issue from fissures in the trackbed. This resulted in a 5 mph speed restriction being imposed and, at the time, caused concerns that the line may be forced to close.^[8]

Facilities

Facilities at the station are basic, consisting of just a shelter, a bench, bike racks, a help point and a small 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 Connel Ferry^[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	2,686	3,268	3,482	3,834	4,058	4,330	4,088	4,056	4,316	4,004	4,400	8,564	6,592	6,262	7,272	6,996	7,220	14,552	15,630	18,620

The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.

Services

There are 7 departures in each direction weekdays, with 6 on Saturdays, with trains heading eastbound to Glasgow Queen Street and westbound to Oban. On weekdays only, the 7th service in each direction runs from Oban to Dalmally and back. On Sundays, there are three departures each way throughout the year, plus a fourth in the summer months only to Edinburgh Waverley, which only runs from late June–August.^[11][12]

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Taynuilt		ScotRail West Highland Line		Oban
	Historical railways
Ach-na-Cloich Line open; Station closed		Callander and Oban Railway Caledonian Railway		Oban Line and station open
		Callander and Oban Railway Ballachulish Branch Caledonian Railway		North Connel Line and station closed