Conon Bridge station re-opening.

[PaulLothian]

really doesn't make sense, ramps have been used for years, why the sudden worry about "vandalism", if anything, putting steps in makes it easier for vandals to get onto the track!

A couple of sensible reasons:

• Cost - by my reckoning a platform slope at 1 in 8 will add 40-50% to the cost of a platform of this length.
  Safety - on such a short platform, there is an increased chance of someone straying onto the ramp, with a greater risk of falls, particularly in icy/snowy weather.

In my experience, if a vandal wants to get onto the track, the question of whether it is a ramp or steps will not matter. Finally, in defence of an area of Scotland that I am rather fond of, mindless vandalism does seem to be less of an issue there than in more metropolitan areas!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What is the longest train formation that will be likely to stop at Conon Bridge railway station ??

 

[PaxVobiscum]

One coach - all the others will stop before or after the station.

 

[Liam]

What is the longest train formation that will be likely to stop at Conon Bridge railway station ??

2x158. Splits at Dingwall for Kyle and Wick.

 

[PaulLothian]

What is the longest train formation that will be likely to stop at Conon Bridge railway station ??

I have not seen anything more than a 4 car train during trips in the past few years -usually 2-car. I would love to see the Royal Scotsman stopping there!

 

[Dolge]

This short platform micro station design, now it has been accepted at Conon Bridge and Beauly, is potentially a very useful idea for new stations on lightly used rural routes. At, say, £500,000 for a new station, with car parking, as compared to several million for a full scale station it should be more affordable. It won't do for any remotely heavy traffic since all passengers have to be able to join and leave the train through a single door, without holding the train up too much. And I imagine there might be issues with the driver being able to stop the train precisely if the line speed is too high or sighting of the platform poor. However this appears to be a serious station with about twenty four trains a day calling - and it isn't a request stop. Not too may other good sites perhaps: Evanton, north of Dingwall, Bishops Tawton, south of Barnstaple?

 

[charlee]

Is conon bridge still scheduled to reopen tomorrow?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

If you look it up on NRE, the timetable but (not the fares) are showing for tomorrow. To be honest though, I don't actually know if this is something new, not having checked it before.

08:23 Conon Bridge [CBD] Inverness [INV] 08:50 27m 0
More Details on the 08:23 service from Conon Bridge to Inverness Single Fare

10:08 Conon Bridge [CBD] Inverness [INV] 10:35 27m 0
More Details on the 10:08 service from Conon Bridge to Inverness Single Fare

11:25 Conon Bridge [CBD] Inverness [INV] 12:13 48m 1
More Details on the 11:25 service from Conon Bridge to Inverness Single Fare

12:59 Conon Bridge [CBD] Inverness [INV] 13:25 26m 0
More Details on the 12:59 service from Conon Bridge to Inverness Single Fare

14:10 Conon Bridge [CBD] Inverness [INV] 14:40 30m 0
More Details on the 14:10 service from Conon Bridge to Inverness Single Fare

...

 

[fgwrich]

Noticed that it's rather late, but i've noticed these pictures on the 'Friends of the Far North Line' website.

http://www.fofnl.org.uk/archives/cononbridge.html

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If you look it up on NRE, the timetable but (not the fares) are showing for tomorrow.

I checked on the website again this morning, being the actual first day of operation, but still no prices are displayed.

I then rang National Rail Enquiries, who confirmed that their web page had not been updated with the pricing information. I asked them to give the price of a single journey using the 1254 service to Dingwall to Conon Bridge, but after being transferred twice, there was still no price given for that journey.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

The mystery deepens...

Perhaps there's a secret military training camp nearby?

 

[charlee]

Confirmed it has reopened today

Conon Bridge rail station reopened ahead of A9 bridge work


A village railway station has been officially reopened by Transport Minister Keith Brown.

The platform at Conon Bridge in Ross-shire has been shut since 1960.

The new £600,000 station is part of a package of measures put together by Transport Scotland to ease congestion during work on the Kessock Bridge.

Network Rail said the project to redevelop the railway station had been delivered on schedule and within budget.

Resurfacing work starts on the Kessock Bridge on Monday and runs until June 2013.

Further works are planned for February to June 2014.

The new Conon Bridge station will service the Far North and the Kyle Lines.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-21380631

 

[steamybrian]

The cost of £600,000 seems expensive for a 15 metre long platform. hock:
Maybe most of the money has been spent upgrading the approach road, building the car park and other associated work.

 

[Buttsy]

This short platform micro station design, now it has been accepted at Conon Bridge and Beauly, is potentially a very useful idea for new stations on lightly used rural routes. At, say, £500,000 for a new station, with car parking, as compared to several million for a full scale station it should be more affordable. It won't do for any remotely heavy traffic since all passengers have to be able to join and leave the train through a single door, without holding the train up too much. And I imagine there might be issues with the driver being able to stop the train precisely if the line speed is too high or sighting of the platform poor. However this appears to be a serious station with about twenty four trains a day calling - and it isn't a request stop. Not too may other good sites perhaps: Evanton, north of Dingwall, Bishops Tawton, south of Barnstaple?

Thorpe St Andrew (East of Norwich) on the Bitterne Line, Cherry Willingham on the Lincoln - Market Rasen line, Cherry Hinton (Cambridge - Ipswich), Wrea Green (Blackpool South line).

Others can probably think of more, but it would depend on likely passenger numbers and SDO or local door opening on the units serving these places.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Surely National Rail Enquiries were aware that the station at Conon Bridge was opening today. They even show the correct three-letter station code of CBD in their records and on their website.
.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I'm sure the three letter code on NRE's webpage for the station during its construction was CNB

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'm sure the three letter code on NRE's webpage for the station during its construction was CNB

Try entering Conon Bridge into their journey planning website....this shows CBD. Is that yet another error on their part ?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I'm not sure, I'd say CBD is correct as I have no reason to doubt it, however I'm certain for most of its construction the page showed 'CNB'. An interesting case on such codes is Buckshaw Parkway, whose three-letter code reflects the name it had until it was changed a matter of weeks before opening. The name was Buckshaw Village and the code was (and is now) BSV.

 

[jimicrowbar]

Was there myself at 5 in the morning to give it the once over. It was opened at 11:30 but it was open for use for the first train at 7.20am to Inverness. Had a few passengers too. The local councillor for one he was the first passenger to get on at conon since 13 June 1960. It had a steady stream of passengers all morning. Even had one passenger who was the first to miss the train by about 1 min. nice wee station and a good day. Charlie (cpms) who was responsible for building it done a great job and he is a cracking guy and a laugh.

 

[Sox]

Used the station myself today, catching the train from Inverness (£7.60 return).

Parking for eight cars plus 1 disabled (although plenty of free parking on access road).

Funny, catching train back, I was the only bloke out of about twelve passengers to get on. One lady said it's because "women catch onto a good thing more quickly".

Although the platform is short, requiring alighting from the middle of the two carriages, the layout should lend itself for extension if necessary.

 

[Blindtraveler]

these loadings seam positive. I wonder how many will make the modal switch from road to rail? The bus services both regular and expres are reasonable but as someone who spends several hours a month at Inverness bus and rail stations, both services come in for a certain amount of complaints.
I know if I was having to commute during the bridge works I would try try both and see what worked best.
I think the problems may start during the Easter, Spring and May bank holidays when the tourists come out in force and many highland services particularly those on the far north and the faster X99 bus service become v v busy!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I tried again on Sunday afternoon to seek pricing information on the National Rail Enquiries website, but again to no avail. Just how long does it take them to add the prices to the list of journeys ?

Does this occur every time that a new station is opened ?

 

[Mojo]

I am shocked that this cost £600,000. Just how on earth can something so minor cost so much money?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I am shocked that this cost £600,000. Just how on earth can something so minor cost so much money?

As is the case with the short rail linkage that is known as the Todmorden Chord, one must ask how much consultancy fees were part of the final costings.

 

[37 418]

Anyone know what the NLC is? Checked Phil Deaves' site and it's blank.

 

[dieselbashdave]

Was the Far North Line ever double track as there's an old green-slime covered platformy-shaped object opposite side of the track at CBD, and there seems to be one at Alness as well opposite the platform.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Was the Far North Line ever double track as there's an old green-slime covered platformy-shaped object opposite side of the track at CBD

This goes back to the days of the Inverness and Ross-shire Railway whose station on the current railway station site was known as Conon. This platform that you saw was a relic of that original station that was opened on 11th June 1862 by that company.

 

[Sox]

This goes back to the days of the Inverness and Ross-shire Railway whose station on the current railway station site was known as Conon. This platform that you saw was a relic of that original station that was opened on 11th June 1862 by that company.

Not sure what the answer is but there is an old (original) platform opposite the newly constructed platform.

The current track disposition means that there is quite a large gap between existing rail edge and (old) platform edge and looks like it could have once accommodated another track (making the line double track at this point)?

 

[PaulLothian]

Was the Far North Line ever double track as there's an old green-slime covered platformy-shaped object opposite side of the track at CBD, and there seems to be one at Alness as well opposite the platform.

Almost all single track, but a number of stations had double platforms and passing loops. Useful old track plans accessible from here - http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Inverness_and_Ross-shire_Railway/frame.htm - click on station names on diagram to reach pics, and in some cases, track layout diagrams.

 

[PR1Berske]

I am shocked that this cost £600,000. Just how on earth can something so minor cost so much money?

You can say the same about almost all new stations built in modern times.