Falmouth Docks railway station
![]() Looking towards Truro | |
Location | Falmouth, Cornwall England |
Coordinates | 50°09′01″N 5°03′21″W / 50.1504°N 5.0558°WCoordinates: 50°09′01″N 5°03′21″W / 50.1504°N 5.0558°W |
Grid reference | SW817323 |
Managed by | Great Western Railway |
Platforms | 1 |
Other information | |
Station code | FAL |
Classification | DfT category F1 |
History | |
Original company | Cornwall Railway |
Pre-grouping | Great Western Railway |
Post-grouping | Great Western Railway |
Key dates | |
24 August 1863 | Opened as Falmouth |
1 December 1970 | Closed |
5 May 1975 | Reopened |
15 May 1989 | Renamed Falmouth Docks |
Passengers | |
2016/17 | ![]() |
2017/18 | ![]() |
2018/19 | ![]() |
2019/20 | ![]() |
2020/21 | ![]() |
Notes | |
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road |
Falmouth Docks railway station (Cornish: Porthklos Aberfala[1]) is situated in Falmouth, Cornwall, England. It was opened in 1863 as the terminus of the Maritime Line from Truro, although since 1970 Falmouth Town has been the principal station for the town. Falmouth Docks is 312 miles 46 chains (503.04 km) measured from London Paddington.
Services are operated by Great Western Railway.
History[]
The original Cornwall Railway Act had provided for a terminus at Falmouth on the waterfront at Greenbank. By the time the line was built the packet ships, which had been the commercial justification for the line, no longer called there. Instead new docks had been constructed near Pendennis Castle to which the railway was diverted. The grand Falmouth Hotel was opened in 1865 just outside the station, with sea views across Gyllyngvase beach. The railway, Falmouth docks and hotel companies shared several directors, the hotel company even leased the refreshment rooms on the station.
The station was constructed out of granite was 200 feet (61 m) long and 90 feet (27 m) wide, the three tracks and two platforms being covered by a train shed. As no other stations were provided in the town at the time it was known just as 'Falmouth', and was opened on 24 August 1863.[2] A large goods shed and a 100 feet (30 m) long engine shed were both provided just outside the station. A siding ran down to the docks from the end of the platform.[3] A camping coach was positioned here by the Western Region from 1962 to 1964.[4]
The need to provide accommodation for all the staff were met by building twenty dwellings, known as Railway Cottages, in four terraces of five dwellings. These are situated just below the station by the entrance to the docks.
The Cornwall Railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway on 1 July 1889. The Great Western Railway was nationalised into British Railways from 1 January 1948 which was in turn privatised in the 1990s.
The station was closed on 7 December 1970 when a new station, also named 'Falmouth', was opened 845 metres (924 yd) away and nearer to the town; on 5 May 1975 the latter was renamed 'The Dell' and the 1863 station was reopened under its original name. On 15 May 1989, both were renamed: 'Falmouth' (this station) became 'Falmouth Docks', and 'The Dell' became 'Falmouth Town'.[2] Passengers now have a choice of three stations in the town: Falmouth Docks, Falmouth Town, and Penmere (opened in 1925).[5]
Stationmasters[]
- E. Healey 1863 - 1864[6]
- Mr. Morcom 1864
- Thomas Henry Hocking ca. 1865 - 1900[7]
- James Parsons 1900 - 1902[8] (formerly station master at Devonport)
- William Henry Higginson 1902[9] - 1911 (formerly station master at Newquay, afterwards station master at Truro)
- Albert William Lofting 1911[10] - 1919 (formerly station master at Lostwithiel, afterwards station master at Truro)
- Thomas Arthur 1919 - 1924[11]
- James Pegler 1924[12] - 1926 (formerly station master at Totnes)
- E.S. Prior 1926[13] - 1929 (formerly station master at Camborne)
- R.G. Randall from 1929[14] (formerly station master at Totnes)
- J.H. Blewett from 1933[15]
- Fred Piper 1935 - 1954[16]
- A.C. Smith 1954[17] (formerly station master at Redruth)
Description[]
The single platform is on the left hand side of trains arriving from Truro.[18] It is covered now by just a canopy but features a mosaic panel on its wall which depicts the link between the railway and the area's maritime heritage. It has level access from the car park.
The station is at the south end of the town on the hillside above the docks and near Pendennis Castle and Gyllyngvase Beach.
Passengers[]
The railway from Truro to Falmouth is designated as a community rail line and is supported by marketing provided by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership. The line is promoted under the "Maritime Line" name.[19]
While passenger numbers have been steadily growing at most Cornish stations in recent years, the growth at Falmouth Docks has been exceptional. More than 28,000 people passed through the station in the twelve months ending March 2003, but this had more than doubled just four years later and almost quadrupled by 2014/15. Falmouth Town, however, continues to be the busiest of the three stations in Falmouth.[20]
2002-03 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Entries | 14,305 | 18,815 | 23,208 | 28,371 | 31,609 | 49,652 | 45,949 | 46,473 | 52,234 |
Exits | 14,156 | 19,619 | 24,108 | 31,171 | 35,555 | 49,652 | 45,949 | 46,473 | 52,234 |
Total | 28,461 | 38,434 | 47,316 | 59,542 | 67,164 | 99,304 | 91,890 | 92,946 | 104,468 |
The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.
Services[]
All trains are operated by Great Western Railway to and from Truro. Until 2009 they ran no more frequently than once each hour – often much less than this[21] – but they were then increased in frequency. They are now every 30 minutes Monday - Saturday day time and hourly at evenings and on Sundays. This is possible because of the new (and novelly constructed) passing loop which is now installed at Penryn.[22]
Preceding station | ![]() |
Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Falmouth Town | Great Western Railway Maritime Line |
Terminus |
References[]
- ^ http://www.magakernow.org.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=f3fabe0c-206f-4e0c-8889-4ce4a5060e5b&version=-1[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 94. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
- ^ Bennett, Alan (1988). The Great Western Railway in Mid Cornwall. Southampton: Kingfisher Railway Publications. ISBN 0-946184-53-4.
- ^ McRae, Andrew (1998). British Railways Camping Coach Holidays: A Tour of Britain in the 1950s and 1960s. Scenes from the Past: 30 (Part Two). Foxline. p. 95. ISBN 1-870119-53-3.
- ^ Cooke, R A (1977). Track Layout Diagrams of the GWR and BR WR: Section 10, West Cornwall. Harwell: R A Cooke.
- ^ "Falmouth Docks". Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser. England. 30 April 1864. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Death of Falmouth's Stationmaster". Royal Cornwall Gazette. England. 25 October 1900. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Falmouth". Cornubian and Redruth Times. England. 24 October 1902. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The New Stationmaster". Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser. England. 13 December 1902. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Staff Change on G.W.R". Royal Cornwall Gazette. England. 13 April 1911. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Railway Record". Western Morning News. England. 4 March 1924. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Mr. James Pegler". Western Morning News. England. 26 April 1924. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Camborne Station Master's Departure". Cornish Post and Mining News. England. 12 June 1926. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Totnes Stationmaster for Falmouth". Western Morning News. England. 1 June 1929. Retrieved 19 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Presentation to new Falmouth Station-Master". Western Morning News. England. 6 May 1933. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Retiring after 50 years' service on the railway". West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. England. 8 April 1954. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "New Stationmaster". West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. England. 1 July 1954. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Jacobs, Gerald (2005). Railway Track Diagrams Book 3: Western. Bradford-on-Avon: Trackmaps. ISBN 0-9549866-1-X.
- ^ Department for Transport, Rail Group (2006), Route prospectus for the … The Maritime Line
- ^ "Station Usage". Rail Statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
- ^ "National Rail Timetable 143 (Winter 2008)" (PDF). Network Rail. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ "Penryn loop installed". Modern Railways. Ian Allan. 65 (722): 12. 2008. ISSN 0026-8356.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Falmouth Docks railway station. |
This station offers access to the South West Coast Path | |
---|---|
Distance to path | 100 yards (91 m) |
Next station anticlockwise | Falmouth Town 0.5 miles (0.80 km) |
Next station clockwise | Penzance 60 miles (97 km) |
- Railway stations on the South West Coast Path
- Buildings and structures in Falmouth, Cornwall
- Railway stations in Cornwall
- Former Great Western Railway stations
- Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1863
- Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1970
- Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1975
- Railway stations served by Great Western Railway
- Railway stations serving harbours and ports in the United Kingdom
- Reopened railway stations in Great Britain