New £15 million Kintore station welcomes first passengers

Providing an interchange between rail and road, the two-platform station is fully accessible with step-free access between platforms via a footbridge with lifts.

Built by Network Rail and main contractor BAM Nuttall, the new station has extensive car parking – including disabled and electric charging bays – and bike storage.

With 24 of the 168 parking spaces fitted with electric charging points, Kintore station is also now the largest electric vehicle charging place in the north east of Scotland.

Connected to the local bus network the station also links into the Inverurie-Kintore cycle path.

The new station will be served by up to 28 ScotRail trains each day – including refurbished high-speed Inter7City trains. Customers will benefit from a half hourly service at peak times Monday to Saturday, and an hourly service on Sundays.

Funded by Transport Scotland, Aberdeenshire Council and Nestrans the new station reconnects Kintore to rail for the first time since 1964 when the original 1854-built station closed as part of the Beeching cuts.

Elements of the original station, including heritage benches and salvaged signs, have been reincorporated into the new facility.

Reopening Kintore has been made possible by the recently completed Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project which doubled the track Aberdeen and Inverurie – increasing capacity for new passenger and freight services on the route.

Kris Kinnear, Network Rail Scotland’s capital delivery director, said: ‘We’re committed to working alongside the Scottish Government to open up our railway to as many communities as possible across Scotland. This station will create new social and economic opportunities for people in Kintore and we are pleased to have been able to deliver the new facility for the town. The north east’s rail network has benefitted from significant investment over the last five years to increase capacity and create more flexible journeys for passengers.’

David Simpson, ScotRail Operations Director, said: ‘It’s fantastic to see trains call at the station for the first time in almost 60 years. Customers in Kintore can now benefit from a fast and frequent service to Aberdeen and Inverness, which will be transformational for the town and the surrounding area for years to come.’

Nissar Mohammed, BAM Nuttall Operations Director, Rail said: ‘The opening of Kintore Station is one of the final pieces of the jigsaw puzzle for Network Rail and BAM in our efforts to transform rail connectivity between Aberdeen and Inverness. Kintore Station offers local commuters the chance to travel in speed and comfort into Aberdeen in less than 20 minutes and onwards to the rest of the rail network. Alongside our work to dual the line between Aberdeen and Inverurie, this new station is the culmination of over five years work to make rail the transport option of choice for people living and working in North East Scotland. I’m very proud of BAM and the rest of the ‘Scotland’s Railway’ team and I know that rail customers will benefit from their work for years to come.’