Historic station is back on track again

A HISTORIC railway station used by the Royal Family on trips to Balmoral will officially reopen today after being destroyed by fire three years ago.

The Old Royal Station in Ballater was ravaged by the blaze in May 2015. Until the 1960s, the B-listed building was the stopping point for members of the Royal Family heading to Balmoral. Aberdeenshire Provost Bill Howatson will cut a ribbon to mark the completion of the revamped building.

The restored space includes a VisitScotland centre, a public library and a restaurant and tearoom to be run by Prince Charles’s charitable trust.

Mr Howatson said: ‘I know the community is very much looking forward to the reopening of the station and I’m personally happy to be involved in the culmination of such an important project for the area, which has involved a lot of hard work by a large number of people.

‘Once again, visitors to Ballater will be able to experience this important part of the town’s royal heritage and history.’