Heritage plans for 70 Scots signal boxes

Broughty Ferry Signal Box. Picture: Historic Scotland

A NEW future is being sought for Scotland’s signal boxes, which face being removed from the railways because of new technology.

Rail officials are examining ways to preserve the country’s 70 boxes, which will all be replaced by signalling centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow within years.

Conservation bodies hope the success of ScotRail’s Adopt a Station scheme to transform empty station buildings into cafes, heritage centres and other businesses can be emulated for signal boxes.

Among the ideas being considered are turning the boxes into artists’ studios or tearooms. However, experts warned that many boxes are inaccessible because they are too close to the tracks, also causing potential problems for safe maintenance.

A total of 42 of Scotland’s signal boxes have listed status, ten of which have closed. Owner Network Rail has to maintain these, even after they are decommissioned.

Some of those on or beside platforms are already in alternative use, such as a holiday apartment at Kyle of Lochalsh, a waiting room at Arrochar and Tarbet in Argyll, and a railway heritage centre at Glenfinnan, Fort William.

Plans have been drawn up for a cafe in the box at Aberdour in Fife, and an office at Upper Tyndrum.

Two signal boxes in Stirling, built in 1900-1, have the highest, A-listed status, as part of the station.

The oldest box on an existing line is at Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, built in 1876.

The Railway Heritage Trust predicted signal boxes would close much faster than the official timescale.

Executive director Andy Savage said: “The ideal solution for a listed signal box is to relocate it to a heritage railway as a working box, so the technology is still used.”