Uphall railway station
Encyclopedia
Uphall railway station serves the village of Uphall Station
, near Livingston
in West Lothian
, Scotland
. It is located on the North Clyde Line
20 km (12½ miles) west of Edinburgh
.
Uphall Station was a large hub, centred on West Lothian oil production and shale mining. The area has changed beyond recognition in recent years. Before the M8 was constructed, Uphall oil works lay just north of the station, with extensive exchange sidings located next to the station. A branch continued north to Uphall, then swung eastward just south of Ecclesmachan (where a branch from Threemiletown joined). The line continued to the Greendykes area of Broxburn, (Albyn or Albion Oil works) where it connected with the lines from Broxburn junction (Winchburgh) (the Broxburn Railway) and Drumshoreland.
Just to the east of the station lay Uphall Jct., connecting the Camps Branch. This line, 3 miles and 52 chains in length, began with a large set of exhange sidings adjacent to the E&B, and served various sidings, the Pumpherston Oil Co., East Calder and terminated at Raw Camps (Torrance's) quarry. The NBR Camps branch formed a junction with the Caledonian Camps branch at Camps Goods station. The course of these lines can be seen on Ordnance Survey Maps One-inch "Popular" edition
on 24 March 1986. Ever since, train services at Uphall were normally operated by diesel multiple units (initially Class 101s
, then from 1987 Class 150s
and by 2008 Class 158
or Class 170s).
The railway was electrified in October 2010 as part of the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link
, which resulted in a second platform being brought into service in October 2008. From December 2010, through trains from Uphall station to Glasgow will be operated by electric multiple units.
When sufficient trains are available, the westbound services will consist of two trains per hour to Helensburgh Central and two trains per hour to Milngavie.
The station has been built without a footbridge. The only access between platforms is by public footway beyond either end of the station complex. At the eastern end this is via a poorly-lit and isolated underpass. The walking time between platforms, or between eastbound platform and car park is around 5 minutes.
Uphall Station
Uphall Station is a small village located in the geographical county of West Lothian, Scotland. The name is derived from neighbouring town Uphall on account of there being a small railway station located on the northeast perimeter of the village. The village is situated southeast of neighbouring...
, near Livingston
Livingston, Scotland
Livingston is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is the fourth post-WWII new town to be built in Scotland, designated in 1962. It is about 15 miles west of Edinburgh and 30 miles east of Glasgow, and is bordered by the towns of Broxburn to the northeast and Bathgate to the northwest.Livingston...
in West Lothian
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
, 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 located on the North Clyde Line
North Clyde Line
The North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...
20 km (12½ miles) west of 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...
.
History
The station was opened as Houston by the Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway on 12 November 1849. On 1 August 1856 it was renamed as Uphall. The station closed on 9 January 1956.Uphall Station was a large hub, centred on West Lothian oil production and shale mining. The area has changed beyond recognition in recent years. Before the M8 was constructed, Uphall oil works lay just north of the station, with extensive exchange sidings located next to the station. A branch continued north to Uphall, then swung eastward just south of Ecclesmachan (where a branch from Threemiletown joined). The line continued to the Greendykes area of Broxburn, (Albyn or Albion Oil works) where it connected with the lines from Broxburn junction (Winchburgh) (the Broxburn Railway) and Drumshoreland.
Just to the east of the station lay Uphall Jct., connecting the Camps Branch. This line, 3 miles and 52 chains in length, began with a large set of exhange sidings adjacent to the E&B, and served various sidings, the Pumpherston Oil Co., East Calder and terminated at Raw Camps (Torrance's) quarry. The NBR Camps branch formed a junction with the Caledonian Camps branch at Camps Goods station. The course of these lines can be seen on Ordnance Survey Maps One-inch "Popular" edition
Reopening
The station's reopening, with a single platform, came as part of the reopening of the Edinburgh to Bathgate LineEdinburgh to Bathgate Line
The Edinburgh to Bathgate Line is a railway line in East Central Scotland. It is also known as the Bathgate branch and the Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway.-History:...
on 24 March 1986. Ever since, train services at Uphall were normally operated by diesel multiple units (initially Class 101s
British Rail Class 101
The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...
, then from 1987 Class 150s
British Rail Class 150
The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :...
and by 2008 Class 158
British Rail Class 158
British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train, built for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by BREL at its Derby Works. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, and allowed cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs...
or Class 170s).
The railway was electrified in October 2010 as part of the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link
Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link
The Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link is a railway in central Scotland.Instigated as part of a round of transport improvement projects proposed by the then Scottish Executive in 2003, the plan was to open up a fourth direct railway link between the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. The project was...
, which resulted in a second platform being brought into service in October 2008. From December 2010, through trains from Uphall station to Glasgow will be operated by electric multiple units.
2008
Monday to Saturday daytimes there was a half-hourly service eastbound to Edinburgh westbound to Bathgate. Evenings and Sundays there is an hourly service in each direction.October to December 2010
Monday to Saturday daytimes there was a half-hourly service eastbound to Edinburgh westbound to the 2010 station. Evenings and Sundays there is an hourly service in each direction.Winter 2010/11 (From 12 December 2010)
During the week there is an eastbound service of four trains per hour to Edinburgh, with three per hour to Bathgate and one per hour to Helensburgh Central as a result of delays with commissioning of the Class 380 trains, insufficient Class 334 trains for the full service have been available for introduction of intended timetable from 12 December 2010.When sufficient trains are available, the westbound services will consist of two trains per hour to Helensburgh Central and two trains per hour to Milngavie.
Access
A car parking area is under construction to the north of the station. The car parking area beside the westbound platform has been restricted as a result of works to the westbound platform.The station has been built without a footbridge. The only access between platforms is by public footway beyond either end of the station complex. At the eastern end this is via a poorly-lit and isolated underpass. The walking time between platforms, or between eastbound platform and car park is around 5 minutes.