Altnabreac railway station

File:Altnabreac.jpg

The station was opened by the Sutherland and Caithness Railway on 28 July 1874 and later absorbed by the Highland Railway.{{cite news |author= |title=The Sunderland and Caithness Railway |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/18740727/098/0005 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=British Newspaper Archive |date=27 July 1874 |access-date=14 August 2016 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}

The reason for the station's construction is a mystery. At the time of construction it was {{convert|8|mi|km}} from the nearest settlement and {{convert|10|mi|km}} from the nearest road.{{cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/467788/Britain-s-most-bizarre-train-stations|title=They're just loco - Britain's most bizarre train stations|publisher=The Express|date=31 March 2014}} The only source of traffic at the station, Lochdhu Lodge, approximately {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} to the south, was not built until 1895 and the Altnabreac School was not built until 1930. However, it had a passing loop with a water tank so may have been established for purely operational reasons. The water tank has not seen regular use since 1962{{Sfn|Wills|2014|p=301}} and the line was singled in 1986;{{Sfn|Caton|2018|p=266}} both the water tank and the old second platform can still be seen.

On 5 July 1988 The Independent newspaper published an article about the disposal of nuclear waste and one of the sites being considered was Altnabreac due to its remoteness and geology of the area and that if chosen the nuclear waste would be transported by train from Sellafield.{{Cite news |last=Wilkie |first=Tom |date= |orig-date=05 July `1988 |title=Caithness most likely area for new site |work=The Independent |pages=8}}

In 2021, Highland Council approved the construction for a timber loading terminal near the station.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-27 |title=Highland Council approves plan to take 9000 tonnes of timber off Caithness roads and on to rail network |url=https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/highland-council-approves-plan-to-take-9000-tonnes-of-timber-261124/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=JohnOGroat Journal |language=en}}

On 30 October 2023 Ian Appleby, the owner of a neighbouring property, was arrested for behaving in a threatening or abusive manner as part of a dispute with Scotrail and Network Rail over access to the station. From Sunday 12 November 2023, ScotRail trains were temporarily not calling at Altnabreac due to the altercation.

On 21 November 2023, The Times published an article stating that a meeting was to take place the following Monday. In attendance would be representatives from British Transport Police, business leaders, Network Rail, Police Scotland, politicians, and ScotRail to consider issuing a compulsory buy-back order on the property evicting the couple from their home.{{Cite web |last=Leask |first=David |date=2023-11-21 |title=Meeting planned to stop ‘nutty neighbours’ closing remote rail halt |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/meeting-planned-to-stop-nutty-neighbours-closing-remote-rail-halt-v5cfjkfl9?region=global |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en |quote="The meeting on Monday will include politicians, business leaders, Network Rail, ScotRail, Police Scotland, the British Transport Police and other stakeholders. One possible outcome is for authorities to issue a compulsory buy-back order on the property, effectively evicting the couple from their home."}}

On 24 November 2023, Appleby and his partner stated that they were being harassed by ScotRail drivers who were blaring their trains' horns as they passed, and denied claims by the previous residents that they had chained themselves up to stop railworkers access to the station and track, when they had only installed a chain on their gate instead. They also claimed that Network Rail had damaged their property by digging holes on it and leaving them open.{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=David G |date=24 November 2023 |title=We won't be bullied out of our home, say Altnabreac couple |url=https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/exclusive-we-wont-be-bullied-out-of-our-home-say-altnabre-333922/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124131212/https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/exclusive-we-wont-be-bullied-out-of-our-home-say-altnabre-333922/ |archive-date=24 November 2023 |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier |quote="Mr Appleby said that "certain ScotRail train drivers" have now started honking horns very loudly late in the evening as they pass their house which is adjacent to the track. "We get woke up most nights now and believe this is malicious, it only has just started happening. The drivers have never beeped the horn at this time before.""}}

On 15 May 2024, The Northern Times reported a fiscal depute, wherein Grant McLennan dropped the case at the Wick Sheriff Court not proceeding with the prosecution of Ian Appleby, due to a lack of corroboration.{{Cite news |date=15 May 2024 |title=Altnabreac road block abuse case collapses at Wick court |url=https://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/altnabreac-road-block-abuse-case-collapses-at-wick-court-350800/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530222527/https://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/altnabreac-road-block-abuse-case-collapses-at-wick-court-350800/ |archive-date=30 May 2024 |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=The Northern Times}} The civil dispute between neighbouring property and Network Rail remains ongoing following the resumption of service. {{Cite web |title=Sheriff Court Rolls (civil) |url=https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/court-rolls/sheriff-court-civil/sheriff-court-rolls-civil/#/?judge=Sheriff+Wilson+N&keyword=appleby |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service |language=en}}

On 21 September 1898, a Highland Railway mail train was almost involved in a collision with a platelayer's trolley that had been left on the track. One of the platelayers, John Morrison noticed the train coming down the track at high speeds, so he scrambled to get the trolley off the track. He succeeded in getting the trolley off the track before the train collided with it but was killed in the process.{{Cite web |last=Esbester |first=Mike |date=2024-03-14 |title=Left on the track |url=https://www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/left-on-the-track/ |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=Railway Work, Life & Death |language=en-US}}

In January 1978, a train from Inverness to Wick became trapped in a blizzard with approximately 70 passengers on board. A rescue locomotive was sent to recover the train but also had to turn back. All 70 passengers - apart from some who walked the {{convert|5|mi|0}} to Scotscalder - were eventually rescued by helicopters approximately 24 hours after leaving Inverness.{{Cite web |title=The Blizzards Of 1978 {{!}} Scottish Saltire Branch {{!}} Aircrew Association |url=http://aircrew-saltire.org/lib202.html |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=aircrew-saltire.org}}{{Sfn|Caton|2018|p=261}}

The station is on a private dirt road between Loch More, Caithness and Forsinain, marked as a cycle trail on Ordnance Survey maps. Being about {{convert|11|km|mi|disp=flip}} from the nearest paved road and {{convert|18|km|mi|disp=flip}} from the nearest village, Altnabreac is often listed as one of Britain's most geographically isolated railway stations, alongside {{rws|Corrour}} elsewhere in Scotland, {{rws|Dovey Junction}} in mid Wales and {{rws|Berney Arms}} in Norfolk.{{Sfn|Caton|2018|p=268}} Dixe Wills says of the area:

"What is all the more remarkable is that the following events took place in the vicinity of the most remote station on my itinerary, a place girded round by peat-black lochs and dismal bogs and overshadowed by dark, anonymous plantations of doomed conifers, where nothing of any note has happened these past 70 years save for intense despondent brooding."{{Sfn|Wills|2014|p=305}}

The station had a small shed that was previously used as a waiting shelter but this is currently boarded up and unusable.{{Cite web |title=National Rail Enquiries - |url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations-and-destinations/stations-made-easy/altnabreac-station-plan?rtnloc=abc |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=www.nationalrail.co.uk}} As there are no facilities to purchase tickets, passengers must buy one in advance, or from the guard on the train.

On 20 December 2022, Transport Scotland introduced a new "Press & Ride" at some request stops along the line,{{cite magazine |author= |date=February 2023 |title=More request stop kiosks on Far North Line |page=14 |magazine=Today's Railways UK |publisher=Platform 5 |issue=252 |id={{EAN|9771475971140}}}} following successful trials of the system at {{rws|Scotscalder}} over the previous four months.{{cite news |author= |date=October 2022 |title=Far North request-stop kiosk on trial |page=16 |work=Today's Railways UK |publisher=Platform 5 |issue=248 |id={{EAN|9771475971140}}}}{{cite news |author= |date=September 2022 |title=First of Scotland's request-stop kiosks goes live |page=8 |work=The Railway Magazine |publisher=Mortons of Horncastle |id={{EAN|9770033892354}}}} Previously, passengers wishing to board a train at Scotscalder had to flag the train by raising their arm (as is still done at other request stops around the country); this meant that the driver needed to reduce the train's speed before a request stop (to look out for any potential passengers on the platform and be able to stop if necessary), even if the platform was empty. The new system consists of an automatic kiosk (with a button for passengers to press) at the platform; this will alert the driver about any waiting passengers in advance and, if there is no requirement to stop, the train can maintain line speed through the request stops, thus improving reliability on the whole line.{{Cite web |title=Far North Line Review Group {{!}} Transport Scotland |url=https://www.transport.gov.scot/public-transport/rail/far-north-line-review-group/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=www.transport.gov.scot}} It is planned for Altnabreac to receive the system sometime in 2023, along with Dunrobin Castle.{{Cite web |title=Far North line sees more request-stop kiosks put in place |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/12/far-north-line-sees-more-request-stop-kiosks-put-in-place.html |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=RailAdvent |date=20 December 2022 |language=en-GB}}

The main origin or destination station for journeys to or from Altnabreac in the 2022–23 period was Thurso, making up 104 of the 280 journeys (37.1%).

The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.

File:Altnabreac Station Approaching Train to Wick (16351516469).jpg approaching Altnabreac Railway Station.]]

On weekdays and Saturdays, the service pattern from the station consists of four trains per day northbound to {{rws|Wick}} via {{rws|Thurso}} and three trains per day southbound to {{rws|Inverness}} via {{rws|Helmsdale}}, {{rws|Golspie}}, {{rws|Lairg}}, {{rws|Tain}} and {{rws|Dingwall}}. (There is a fourth train bound for Inverness but it is not scheduled to call at Altnabreac.) On Sundays there is just one train per day each way.eNRT December 2021 Edition, Table 219

The station is designated as a request stop requiring that passengers intending to alight inform the guard in advance, and any passengers wishing to board must ensure they are in view of the train driver, and are required to use a hand signal to stop the train.

{{rail start}}

{{rail line

|previous = {{rws|Forsinard}}

|next = {{rws|Scotscalder}}

|route = ScotRail
Far North Line

|col = {{ScotRail colour}} }}

{{Historical Rail Insert}}

{{rail line

|previous = {{rws|Forsinard}}
Line and station open

|next = {{rws|Scotscalder}}
Line and station open

|route = Highland Railway
Sutherland and Caithness Railway

|col = {{HR colour}} |lightcol={{HR light}} }}

{{s-end}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |editor-last=Brailsford |editor-first=Martyn |title=Railway Track Diagrams 1: Scotland & Isle of Man |edition=6th |date=December 2017 |orig-year=1987 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Frome |isbn=978-0-9549866-9-8 }}
• {{Butt-Stations}}
• {{Cite book |last=Caton |first=Peter |title=Remote Stations |publisher=Matador |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-78901-408-2 |location=Leicestershire}}
• {{Jowett-Atlas}}
• {{Cite book |last=Wills |first=Dixe |title=Tiny Stations |publisher=AA Publishing |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-7495-7732-2 |edition=Paperback, 1st reprint |location=Basingstoke}}

{{Commons}}

{{Stn art lnk|ABC}}

• [http://railscot.co.uk/Sutherland_and_Caithness_Railway/frame.htm RAILSCOT article on Sutherland and Caithness Railway]
• [https://www.railscot.co.uk/locations/A/Altnabreac RAILSCOT page on Altnabreac]

{{Railway stations served by Abellio Scotrail}}

Category:Railway stations in Highland (council area)

Category:Railway stations in Caithness

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1874

Category:Railway stations served by ScotRail

Category:Railway request stops in Great Britain

Category:Former Highland Railway stations

Category:Low usage railway stations in the United Kingdom

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 2023