Torquay railway station Totally Explained

Everything about Torquay Railway Station totally explained

Torquay railway station is on the Riviera Line and serves the seaside resort of Torquay, Devon, England. The station is operated by First Great Western. It is just a few yards from the sea at Abbey Sands.

History

A railway station serving Torquay had been opened by the broad gauge South Devon Railway on 18 December 1848, but this station was on the hill distant from the harbour at the centre of the town. A new station near Abbey Sands was opened by the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway on 2 August 1859 when the original station was renamed "Torre". Goods traffic continued to be handled at the original station, the new one retaining a more genteel atmosphere with just passengers, their horse and carriages.
   The Dartmouth and Torbay Railway was always operated by the South Devon Railway and was amalgamated with it on 1 January 1872. This was only short lived as the South Devon Railway was in turn amalgamated into the Great Western Railway on 1 February 1876. A vastly improved station was opened on 1 September 1878 and the line, which had been a single track with a passing loop in the station, was doubled in 1882. A small signal box was opened at each end of the station in 1878, that at the Newton Abbot end has been demolished but the one at the Paignton end is now rented out as an office.
   The line was converted to standard gauge on 20 May 1892. The line towards Paignton was doubled on 30 October 1910, the work for which meant the opening out of the Livermead Tunnel which was at the top of the gradient south of the station. At around the same time the signalling was all concentrated in the South signal box, although the North box was retained as a ground frame to work points for sidings at this end of the station.
   The Great Western Railway was nationalised into British Railways in 1948. The North ground frame was demolished in 1966 as the sidings had been taken out of use. The South signal box was closed on 1 November 1984, although it had only been opened on busy days since October 1968.

Torquay Gas Works

The local gas works are situated above the cliffs at Hollacombe, south of the station. During the Gas House Sidings' construction there was a potentially serious accident on 21 September 1866 when a train from Kingswear ran through an incomplete set of points and derailed.
   In connection with the doubling of the line Torquay Gas House Signal Box was opened here on 24 July 1910. In addition to controlling the entrance to the gas works was used to increase the capacity of the line on busy days until 4 December 1966.
   The siding saw very heavy traffic of coal brought up from the quay at Kingswear. When a ship arrived ninety empty wagons were sent to Kingswear and, as they were loaded, they were tripped up to the Gas House Siding. Depending on the locomotive type available that day, the loaded trains might be restricted to as few as 10 wagons due to the severe gradients on the line. Each ship provided up to 160 wagon loads. The one remaining signal box (now rented out for commercial purposes) is situated at the south end of this platform near a decorative cast iron bridge across the tracks.
   The forecourt in front of the main building is shaded by trees and is raised above the road by an arched retaining wall. The Grand Hotel is on the right of passengers leaving the station, and the sea front is just beyond. Buses to the harbour and town centre stop on the sea front by the road leading to the station.
   The platform nearest the sea is served by trains towards Paignton, the opposite platform being used for trains towards Exeter St Davids. There is step-free access to both platforms and a wide footbridge links them.

Services

Torquay is served by First Great Western local trains in both directions on an approximately hourly basis during the day. Most trains run between Exmouth and Paignton; on Sundays the service is less frequent and most trains only run between Exeter St Davids and Paignton.
A few long distance trains also call at Torquay, especially during the summer months. First Great Western operate trains from London Paddington station, including the Torbay Express. and CrossCountry services operate from the North of England. At other times passengers travelling change into main line trains at Newton Abbot.
Further Information

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