North Berwick railway station
Encyclopedia
North Berwick railway station is a railway station serving the seaside town of North Berwick
in East Lothian
, Scotland
. It is the terminus of the Edinburgh
to North Berwick Line
, 36 km (22¼ miles) east of .
) visited North Berwick in 1859, arriving by train. By this time the town was increasingly favoured as a resort for the wealthy, and the royal visit helped to boost its popularity. To encourage tourism, a large new hotel (the 'Royal Hotel') was built opposite the station, with the railway company being a shareholder in this venture until 1923. The growth of the town during the Victorian era resulted in increased business for the railway, and in 1894 the station was enlarged to cope with the traffic.
Following the rebuilding, the station complex featured two terminus platforms, which extended right up to Station Road. To the south of the station was a goods yard with ten sidings and a goods shed. One of the sidings originally extended across Station Road onto a high embankment between Abbey Road and Station Hill in order to serve the gasworks at the foot of Station Hill (this embankment was the only part of the harbour line to be completed). A two-road dead-ended engine shed was located on the north of the line, with its back against the Ware Road overbridge, while the signalbox was located on the south side of the line opposite the shed. West of Ware Road was a headshunt siding on the north side of the line. In 1904 a replacement gasworks was built at Ferrygate, with two sidings on the north side of the line facing towards North Berwick.
There was a proposal by the Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Railway
to build a second route to North Berwick from , however that line was only completed as far as Gullane.
In the days of steam locomotives many of the North Berwick branch passenger trains terminated at Drem, and passengers had to change onto main line stopping services to continue their journeys. In 1958, diesel multiple unit
s were introduced on the North Berwick services, and most branch trains then ran right through to Edinburgh Waverley or Corstorphine. With the arrival of the diesels, the engine shed was closed.
Despite the improvement to passenger services upon dieselisation, a period of decline had already begun. The intermediate station at Dirleton had closed to passenger on 1 February 1954, and its use for goods traffic ended on 1 June 1959. Nationally, the railways were suffering as a result of increased car ownership and competition from road haulage. The gasworks, formerly a major customer, ceased to receive coal deliveries in the 1960s, and North Berwick goods yard closed on 1 January 1968. The signalbox closed one week later, at which time all tracks were removed except that leading to the secondary (north) platform. The late '60s were the period of the infamous 'Beeching Axe
', and British Rail sought permission to close the branch line altogether, along with all local stations east of Edinburgh. Although the Minister of Transport refused permission for these closures, a drastic cut in service was implemented. When the new timetable was introduced on 4 January 1970, the weekday service consisted of just two morning and two evening peak hour trains. This period represented the nadir of the station's fortunes, with a skeleton service and most of the station complex derelict.
The passenger service gradually recovered, despite a further threat to the station's future following publication of the Serpell Report
in 1982. However, in 1985 the grand but decaying station buildings were demolished and the remaining platform was shortened. A new station car park was built on the site of the old station buildings and platforms, while the goods yard site was sold for housing development. The 'new' station was unstaffed, and 'pay trains' were introduced between Edinburgh and North Berwick on 27 May 1985. Although the loss of the old station buildings was lamented by many local people, the reduction in operating costs and the provision of a park-and-ride car park contributed to the revitalisation of the line. By the end of the 1980s the service was once again operating on an hourly frequency. Electrification of the branch line in the early 1990s showed a renewed confidence in the long term future of the station. Regular electric service began on 8 July 1991, and passenger numbers have continued to grow steadily. A passenger-operated self-service ticket machine was installed in the late 2000s.
; services operate on a regular hourly frequency on weekdays, with additional peak hour services. Saturdays see a half-hourly daytime service, with Saturday evening and Sunday service being hourly. Most trains operate all-stations between North Berwick and Edinburgh, but a few continue beyond Edinburgh to via and .
North Berwick
The Royal Burgh of North Berwick is a seaside town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 25 miles east of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the 19th century because of its two sandy bays, the East Bay and the...
in East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, 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...
. It is the terminus of the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to North Berwick Line
North Berwick Line
The North Berwick Line is a railway line linking Edinburgh with North Berwick in Scotland. The route follows the East Coast Main Line as far as Drem where it then branches to the north....
, 36 km (22¼ miles) east of .
History
Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIIEdward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
) visited North Berwick in 1859, arriving by train. By this time the town was increasingly favoured as a resort for the wealthy, and the royal visit helped to boost its popularity. To encourage tourism, a large new hotel (the 'Royal Hotel') was built opposite the station, with the railway company being a shareholder in this venture until 1923. The growth of the town during the Victorian era resulted in increased business for the railway, and in 1894 the station was enlarged to cope with the traffic.
Following the rebuilding, the station complex featured two terminus platforms, which extended right up to Station Road. To the south of the station was a goods yard with ten sidings and a goods shed. One of the sidings originally extended across Station Road onto a high embankment between Abbey Road and Station Hill in order to serve the gasworks at the foot of Station Hill (this embankment was the only part of the harbour line to be completed). A two-road dead-ended engine shed was located on the north of the line, with its back against the Ware Road overbridge, while the signalbox was located on the south side of the line opposite the shed. West of Ware Road was a headshunt siding on the north side of the line. In 1904 a replacement gasworks was built at Ferrygate, with two sidings on the north side of the line facing towards North Berwick.
There was a proposal by the Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Railway
Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Railway
The Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Railway was incorporated on 24 August 1893 as a route to promote North Berwick as a resort. It was connected to the Main Line at Longniddry.-History:...
to build a second route to North Berwick from , however that line was only completed as far as Gullane.
In the days of steam locomotives many of the North Berwick branch passenger trains terminated at Drem, and passengers had to change onto main line stopping services to continue their journeys. In 1958, diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s were introduced on the North Berwick services, and most branch trains then ran right through to Edinburgh Waverley or Corstorphine. With the arrival of the diesels, the engine shed was closed.
Despite the improvement to passenger services upon dieselisation, a period of decline had already begun. The intermediate station at Dirleton had closed to passenger on 1 February 1954, and its use for goods traffic ended on 1 June 1959. Nationally, the railways were suffering as a result of increased car ownership and competition from road haulage. The gasworks, formerly a major customer, ceased to receive coal deliveries in the 1960s, and North Berwick goods yard closed on 1 January 1968. The signalbox closed one week later, at which time all tracks were removed except that leading to the secondary (north) platform. The late '60s were the period of the infamous 'Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
', and British Rail sought permission to close the branch line altogether, along with all local stations east of Edinburgh. Although the Minister of Transport refused permission for these closures, a drastic cut in service was implemented. When the new timetable was introduced on 4 January 1970, the weekday service consisted of just two morning and two evening peak hour trains. This period represented the nadir of the station's fortunes, with a skeleton service and most of the station complex derelict.
The passenger service gradually recovered, despite a further threat to the station's future following publication of the Serpell Report
Serpell Report
The Serpell Report was produced by a committee chaired by Sir David Serpell, a senior civil servant. It was commissioned by the government of Margaret Thatcher to examine the state and long-term prospects of Great Britain's railway system. There were two main parts to the report. The first part...
in 1982. However, in 1985 the grand but decaying station buildings were demolished and the remaining platform was shortened. A new station car park was built on the site of the old station buildings and platforms, while the goods yard site was sold for housing development. The 'new' station was unstaffed, and 'pay trains' were introduced between Edinburgh and North Berwick on 27 May 1985. Although the loss of the old station buildings was lamented by many local people, the reduction in operating costs and the provision of a park-and-ride car park contributed to the revitalisation of the line. By the end of the 1980s the service was once again operating on an hourly frequency. Electrification of the branch line in the early 1990s showed a renewed confidence in the long term future of the station. Regular electric service began on 8 July 1991, and passenger numbers have continued to grow steadily. A passenger-operated self-service ticket machine was installed in the late 2000s.
Services
Train services are provided by First ScotRailFirst 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...
; services operate on a regular hourly frequency on weekdays, with additional peak hour services. Saturdays see a half-hourly daytime service, with Saturday evening and Sunday service being hourly. Most trains operate all-stations between North Berwick and Edinburgh, but a few continue beyond Edinburgh to via and .
Sources
- Hajducki, Andrew M. (1992) The North Berwick and Gullane Branch Lines, Headington, Oakwood Press, ISBN 085361427X
- RAILSCOT on the North Berwick Branch
- RAILSCOT on Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Railway