Falmouth Docks railway station

Falmouth Docks
265px Looking towards Truro
Location
Place	Falmouth
Local authority	Cornwall
Coordinates
Grid reference	SW817323
Operations
Station code	FAL
Managed by	Great Western Railway
Number of platforms	1
DfT category	F1
Live arrivals/departures, station information and onward connections from National Rail Enquiries
Annual rail passenger usage*
2002/03	28,461
2004/05	38,434
2005/06	47,316
2006/07	59,542
2007/08	67,164
2008/09	99,304
2009/10	91,890
2010/11	92,946
2011/12	104,468
2012/13	103,542
2013/14	109,134
History
Original company	Cornwall Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Western Railway
Post-grouping	Great Western Railway
24 August 1863	Opened as Falmouth
1 December 1970	Closed
5 May 1975	Reopened
15 May 1989	Renamed Falmouth Docks
National Rail – UK railway stations
* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Falmouth Docks from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year.
UK Railways portal

Falmouth Docks station (Cornish: Porthklos Aberfala) in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, is the terminus of the Maritime Line to Truro. 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. 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.

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 became Falmouth Docks, and The Dell became Falmouth Town. Passengers now have a choice of three stations in the town: Falmouth Docks, Falmouth Town, and Penmere (opened in 1925).

Description

The single platform is on the left hand side of trains arriving from Truro. 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.

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. Falmouth Town, however, continues to be the busiest of the three stations in Falmouth.

	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 – 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.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Falmouth Town		Great Western Railway Maritime Line		Terminus

External links

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)