 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The platform and freight terminal at Georgemas Junction, looking west | |||||
| General information | |||||
| Location | Georgemas,Highland Scotland | ||||
| Coordinates | 58°30′49″N3°27′06″W / 58.5135°N 3.4518°W /58.5135; -3.4518 | ||||
| Grid reference | ND155592 | ||||
| Managed by | ScotRail | ||||
| Platforms | 1 | ||||
| Other information | |||||
| Station code | GGJ[2] | ||||
| History | |||||
| Original company | Sutherland and Caithness Railway | ||||
| Pre-grouping | Highland Railway | ||||
| Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway British Railways | ||||
| Key dates | |||||
| 1874 | Opened | ||||
| Passengers | |||||
| 2019/20 |  1,570 | ||||
| 2020/21 | 234 | ||||
| 2021/22 |  1,032 | ||||
| 2022/23 | 1,318 | ||||
| 2023/24 | 1,588 | ||||
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Georgemas Junction railway station is arailway station on theFar North Line in the far north ofScotland. The station, which is in theHighlandcouncil area, serves several rural hamlets in the historiccounty of Caithness, includingGeorgemas,Roadside and Banniskirk and the village ofHalkirk, which lies approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west of the station. It is the penultimate station before the line terminus atWick (147 miles 22 chains (237 km) fromInverness).[3]
The station has a single platform which is long enough to accommodate a six-carriage train.[4] The station is managed byScotRail, who operate the services at the station. West of the station is Georgemas junction which is the branch line toThurso starts.[3] The junction is the northernmost railway junction in theUnited Kingdom.
The station was built by theSutherland and Caithness Railway (S&CR). The station buildings were designed byMurdoch Paterson and it opened on 28 July 1874[5] and on that date theHighland Railway absorbed the S&CR and operated the newly completed line from Helmsdale to Thurso and Wick. A wrought-iron turntable of 45 feet (14 m) diameter built by the Railway Steel and Plant Company of Manchester was installed at the station.[6]
In 1902, Donald Mackenzie, station master was appointed first station master ofDornoch railway station.[7]
From 1 January 1923 the station was operated by theLondon Midland and Scottish Railway.
At the end of February 1937 trains were stranded at Georgemas Junction because of heavy snow. A goods train from Inverness got stuck in a drift 9 feet (2.7 m) deep. An engine with a snow plough was also stuck at the same location.[8]
Until diesel multiple unit trains were introduced byBritish Rail in the early 1990s, all trains on the Far North Line were locomotive-hauled, initially by Highland Railway steam locomotives, then by LMSR steam locomotives and latterly byBritish Railways steam and finallyClass 37 diesel locomotives. Northbound passenger trains would divide at Georgemas Junction, with the rear portion for Thurso and the front portion for Wick. A locomotive was stabled at Georgemas Junction to haul the Thurso carriages.
Following the introduction ofClass 156diesel multiple units on the line, trains were always composed of two trainsets (four cars) and at Georgemas, these would split in half with the front portion heading to Wick, the rear to Thurso. This practice was halted with the introduction ofClass 158 sets which operate as single sets - on arrival at Georgemas Junction from Inverness, trains reverse to reach Thurso, and then reverse again from Thurso back to Georgemas Junction (stopping a second time) and on to Wick. An easement to theNational Routeing Guide allows passengers for Wick to stay on the train between Georgemas Junction and Thurso, which would otherwise technically be off-route.[9]
Georgemas Junction station has been used for freight services that transport containers on to lorries which are taken by road to Wick and Thurso, as well as by ferry toOrkney. In the early 2000s,EWS operated a freight train forSafeway supermarket, running containers fromMossend to be unloaded at Georgemas.[10]
In 2012, platform 1 and the station footbridge were removed whenDirect Rail Services constructed a new freight terminal at Georgemas. The platform, which was located on apassing loop, was little used by passenger trains since all trains travelling to and from Inverness no longer split at the station. The passing loop dated back to the time loco-hauled trains divided/attached at the station – an Inverness-bound train from Wick would loop around the Thurso portion standing on the second (remaining) platform, and attach to it from behind.[11]
The freight terminal has been used for taking nuclear material fromDounreay toSellafield.[12]
Facilities at this station include a payphone that accepts card and coins, designated seating area,A LED Departure board,a cycle rack with 10 spaces, and a free car park with 2 spaces. The nearest bus stop to the station is located 850 metres (930 yd) to the north.[13]
| 2002–03 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 | 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 2015–16 | 2016–17 | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entries and exits | 1,129 | 1,108 | 1,018 | 989 | 893 | 1,500 | 1,482 | 1,630 | 1,682 | 1,906 | 1,652 | 1,696 | 1,572 | 1,502 | 1,320 | 1,576 | 1,570 | 234 | 1,032 | 1,318 |
The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.
On weekdays and Saturdays, there are four trains per day each way betweenInverness andWick, resulting in 8 trains per day to Thurso, as all trains in both directions go to Thurso on their way to Inverness or Wick. On Sundays, the frequency is reduced to one train per day each way, meaning two trains go to Thurso.[11]
| Preceding station |  National Rail | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotscalder orForsinard | ScotRail Far North Line | Wick | ||
| Thurso | ||||
| Historical railways | ||||
| Halkirk line open, station closed | Highland Railway Sutherland and Caithness Railway | Bower line open, station closed | ||
| Hoy line open, station closed | ||||
