Visiting Camelon - the least used station in Falkirk
Saturday 22nd August 2020
Camelon by
Alexander Fleming, on Flickr
What a difference a month makes! A whole lot of rain and not one, but two, line closures later we reach the next instalment of my least used series. This time, Camelon in Falkirk. Camelon is a fairly basic modern station with all the amenities you would expect a 1990s masterpiece to have; a waiting shelter on each platform, ticket machine, PIS system (although that wasn’t working when I visited, probably due to the amended timetable). The modern Camelon station was opened in 1994, further west than the original station, which was an island platform located on the other side of the road bridge. You can still see the space the platform occupied when you look towards Falkirk.
Camelon by
Alexander Fleming, on Flickr
Getting to Camelon is easy. Well, it is normally. There are 8 trains per hour scheduled between Edinburgh and the town of Falkirk, but the closure of the line at Polmont due to the canal bursting its banks means that 0 out of 8 are running, it's rail replacement buses from Edinburgh. I could have waited for the line to re-open before visiting, but I didn’t want to delay this trip any more as it would push all my other trips back (and I want to get to the bottom of the list when I still have a decent amount of daylight) so I bit the bullet and went out today.
The buses were running from Edinburgh Park to Falkirk Grahamston, so that’s where I went first. Of course, that meant some (limited) 334 thrash, and double duds
334016+334030 didn’t disappoint for the four or so miles to Edinburgh Park. Having read the horror stories of people not being able to board the buses, I was prepared to put up a fight but actually, at 13:00 on a Saturday, it was me and five other people. Quite a comfortable coach it was too! I think it was a Volvo B9 chassis but I didn’t catch the reg number so can’t check.
334030 by
Alexander Fleming, on Flickr
The journey didn’t take long at all, only about 45 minutes or so, and I was deposited in the car park at Falkirk Grahamston in plenty of time to see the next Dunblane train leave. Fantastic. Thinking I was facing a 50 minute wait, I head to the platform to see a 14:07 to Glasgow exists, so I gladly wait for that.
385029+385014 are on this working that is apparently 20 minutes late. On RTT, it is a 13:45 Glasgow service. Odd. But I’m not complaining.
We are soon arriving into Camelon, and I’ not the only one alighting; two youths also decide to scratch Falkirk’s least used station. I have a quick wander around taking a few photos before heading to the nearby Tesco for something to eat. I have the choice of a Tesco, Aldi or Home Bargains in the immediate vicinity. I choose Tesco as the walk allows me a break from the face mask. I didn’t walk the other way down the street, but there were many wrappers for a peri peri chicken shop on the ground, so I assume one of those is close as well.
It’s stats time now! Camelon is definitely the poor cousin of the 5 stations in the Falkirk region. It had just 142,044 entries and exits last year. That’s just 389 people a day. The next least used station in the area is Grahamston at 720,008, so quite a big difference! Its location next to a sketchy looking leisure centre and associated empty car park probably doesn’t do it any favours.
Camelon by
Alexander Fleming, on Flickr
I take a few photos of passing trains, and generally enjoy sitting in the sun in (relative) solitude before electing winner
385040 as a suitable means of getting out of there. The journey to Grahamston is miniscule, and I am soon waiting for the bus back to Ed. It’s another B9 Caetano coach for me, but this one is not as comfy as the previous one. Clearly its primary function is a school bus, as it’s 3+2 seats in a horrible pitch. Just look at that lack of legroom!
Legroom by
Alexander Fleming, on Flickr
Arrival at Edinburgh Park is a little under an hour later and, as I thought, there was a 25 minute wait for the train to Edinburgh. I also discover, thanks to RTT, that it would be the dud pair of 334s from earlier, having made it to Helensburgh and back. No thanks, I think, and I jump on a tram instead. It’s 266 for me on this journey and it’s Brucie bonus time as I do believe this scores me Edinburgh Park Station tram stop. Nice one. Railmiles also records Edinburgh Tram moves now? Ace, I’ll have to make an effort to scratch the rest of the tram stops then.
That’s all I have to say about Camelon really. I had a really great day being able to get out in the sun for once! It feels like forever since I wasn’t on a rail trip when I wasn’t cold. (Last month doesn’t count, it was on and off rain for the most part)
Stay tuned as we stay local for the next least used station. For now though, some more photos;
Thanks for reading!
385014 by
Alexander Fleming, on Flickr
385121 by
Alexander Fleming, on Flickr
385040 by
Alexander Fleming, on Flickr