Network Rail has opened Kintore rail station which is re-joining Scotland’s Railway for the first time in 56 years. £15 million (EUR 16.5 million) was the needed investment to open the new station.
“This station will create new social and economic opportunities for people in Kintore and we are pleased to have been able to deliver the new facility for the town,” Kris Kinnear, Network Rail Scotland’s capital delivery director, said.
Providing an interchange between rail and road, the two-platform station is fully accessible with step-free access between platforms via a footbridge with lifts.
The station has extensive car parking including disabled and electric charging bays as well as bike storage facility. With 24 of the 168 parking spaces fitted with electric charging points, Kintore station is also now the largest electric vehicle charging place in the north east of Scotland.
Connected to the local bus network the station also links into the Inverurie-Kintore cycle path.
The new station will be served by up to 28 ScotRail trains each day, including refurbished high-speed Inter7City trains. The passengers will benefit from a half hourly service at peak times Monday to Saturday, and an hourly service on Sundays.
“It’s fantastic to see trains call at the station for the first time in almost 60 years. Customers in Kintore can now benefit from a fast and frequent service to Aberdeen and Inverness, which will be transformational for the town and the surrounding area for years to come,” David Simpson, ScotRail operations director said.
Elements of the original station, including heritage benches and salvaged signs, have been reincorporated into the new facility. Reopening Kintore has been made possible by the recently completed Aberdeen-Inverness improvement project which doubled the track between Aberdeen and Inverurie, increasing capacity for new passenger and freight services on the route.
From Kintore to Aberdeen, rapid and comfortable transport services are provided to the local commuters, with a travel time of 20 minutes.
The Kintore rail station was constructed by Network Rail and main contractor BAM Nuttall. Funded by Transport Scotland, Aberdeenshire Council and Nestrans the new station reconnects Kintore to rail for the first time since 1964 when the original 1854-built station closed as part of the Beeching cuts.
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