Dyce railway station
Encyclopedia
Dyce railway station is a railway station serving the town of Dyce
, Aberdeen
, Scotland
. The station is managed by First ScotRail
and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line
, with some trains operating on the East Coast Main Line
beginning or terminating at the station. This gives it direct services to , , Edinburgh
, Glasgow
, and intermediate stations. It also serves nearby Aberdeen Airport
via the 80 Dyce Airlink
shuttle bus.
north to Peterhead
/Fraserburgh
branched off. There is still evidence on the ground of the old platforms which sat on the site of the car park. The former lines to Peterhead/Fraserburgh are now a long distance cycle path, accessible from the western end of the car park.
. Operated by Central Coaches Monday to Friday. On Saturdays First Aberdeen
operated a X80 service.
, which opened in 1880, is a tall structure located at the south (Aberdeen) end of the station, on the east side of the railway. In 1928, the box was provided with a new frame
of 46 levers, subsequently reduced in size to 26 levers.
Dyce lost its semaphore signals
in October 2007 when new colour light signals
were brought into use. The lever frame was removed from the signal box (renamed from "Dyce Junction" to "Dyce") and a new relay interlocking
and 'NX' (entrance-exit) panel was installed, initially housed inside a temporary signal box.
The Raiths Farm layout comprises arrival and departure lines to the north and south, a run-round loop and four sidings
. The facility began operations in 2009.
Dyce
Dyce is a civil parish and suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, about north west of Aberdeen city centre, and best known as the location of the city's airport. It is on the River Don.- History :...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The station is managed by First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line
Aberdeen to Inverness Line
The Aberdeen to Inverness Line is a railway line in Scotland linking Aberdeen and Inverness.-Current services:Passenger services are operated by First ScotRail. There is some limited freight traffic, with Elgin retaining a goods yard, whilst Keith, Huntly and Inverurie retain smaller, less...
, with some trains operating on the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
beginning or terminating at the station. This gives it direct services to , , Edinburgh
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
, Glasgow
Glasgow Queen Street railway station
Glasgow Queen Street is a railway station in Glasgow, Scotland, the smaller of the city's two main line railway termini and the third-busiest station in Scotland. It is between George Street to the south and Cathedral Street Bridge to the north, at the northern end of Queen Street adjacent to...
, and intermediate stations. It also serves nearby Aberdeen Airport
Aberdeen Airport
Aberdeen Airport is an international airport, located at Dyce, a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, approximately northwest of Aberdeen city centre. 2.76 million passengers used Aberdeen Airport in 2010, a reduction of 7.4% compared with 2009, making it the 15th busiest airport in the UK...
via the 80 Dyce Airlink
80 Dyce Airlink
80 Dyce Airlink is a shuttle bus service operated by First Aberdeen and Central Coaches. Until 2011, the service was fully operated by First Aberdeen, but Central Coaches took over took over the services Mondays to Fridays. First Aberdeen operates the X80 on Saturdays.-80:The 80 is operated by...
shuttle bus.
History
Dyce used to be where the Formartine and Buchan RailwayFormartine and Buchan Railway
The Formartine and Buchan Railway was a railway in the north east of Scotland. It was built to link Fraserburgh and Peterhead with Aberdeen. It had a junction with the main line of the Great North of Scotland Railway at Dyce.-History:...
north to Peterhead
Peterhead
Peterhead is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is Aberdeenshire's biggest settlement , with a population of 17,947 at the 2001 Census and estimated to have fallen to 17,330 by 2006....
/Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2001 Census at 12,454 and estimated at 12,630 in 2006. It lies at the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, around north of Aberdeen, and north of Peterhead...
branched off. There is still evidence on the ground of the old platforms which sat on the site of the car park. The former lines to Peterhead/Fraserburgh are now a long distance cycle path, accessible from the western end of the car park.
Station usage
Dyce is a popular station with commuters into Aberdeen. There were almost 20,000 season ticket holders using the station in 2004–2005, increasing to 43,000 in 2006–2007. Dyce also serves the airport, although up to now it does not seem to have been utilised very much by tourists (which may be due to the fact that the station is on the other side of the airport from the terminal, and previously lacked a direct bus link) but it does appear to be popular with oil workers returning from the rigs. In addition to the 80 Dyce Airlink shuttle bus, a taxi rank also provides a means of transport to the airport terminal.80 Dyce Airlink
80 Dyce Airlink is a service operating from the station to Aberdeen AirportAberdeen Airport
Aberdeen Airport is an international airport, located at Dyce, a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, approximately northwest of Aberdeen city centre. 2.76 million passengers used Aberdeen Airport in 2010, a reduction of 7.4% compared with 2009, making it the 15th busiest airport in the UK...
. Operated by Central Coaches Monday to Friday. On Saturdays First Aberdeen
First Aberdeen
First Aberdeen Ltd is the main bus company serving Aberdeen, Scotland and is part of FirstGroup. It was renamed First Aberdeen Ltd in 1998, having previously operated buses in Aberdeen as Aberdeen Corporation, Grampian Regional Transport and First Grampian.-Aberdeen Corporation:Aberdeen Corporation...
operated a X80 service.
Signalling
Dyce signal boxSignal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
, which opened in 1880, is a tall structure located at the south (Aberdeen) end of the station, on the east side of the railway. In 1928, the box was provided with a new frame
Lever frame
Mechanical railway signalling installations rely on lever frames for their operation to interlock the signals and points to allow the safe operation of trains in the area the signals control...
of 46 levers, subsequently reduced in size to 26 levers.
Dyce lost its semaphore signals
Railway semaphore signal
One of the earliest forms of fixed railway signal is the semaphore. These signals display their different indications to train drivers by changing the angle of inclination of a pivoted 'arm'. Semaphore signals were patented in the early 1840s by Joseph James Stevens, and soon became the most...
in October 2007 when new colour light signals
Railway signal
A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
were brought into use. The lever frame was removed from the signal box (renamed from "Dyce Junction" to "Dyce") and a new relay interlocking
Interlocking
In railway signalling, an interlocking is an arrangement of signal apparatus that prevents conflicting movements through an arrangement of tracks such as junctions or crossings. The signalling appliances and tracks are sometimes collectively referred to as an interlocking plant...
and 'NX' (entrance-exit) panel was installed, initially housed inside a temporary signal box.
Raiths Farm
A new freight terminal, named "Raiths Farm", has been built to the north of Dyce station, in a field on the west side of the railway. Construction of the terminal was completed in November 2007. The Raiths Farm facility replaced the Guild Street yard at , allowing the latter site, which occupied valuable land close to the city centre, to be redeveloped.The Raiths Farm layout comprises arrival and departure lines to the north and south, a run-round loop and four sidings
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
. The facility began operations in 2009.