Station facilities
Management of Dunbar station transferred from Virgin East Coast to ScotRail in April 2016.
Traditional and historic station building
It is staffed at all times when trains are running
Well maintained toilet and waiting room
Seating on the platform
Leaflet rack and local notices board at station provided by Sustaining Dunbar.
Book-swap at station kept full by commuters.
Public bicycle pump provided by Sustaining Dunbar.
Vending machine selling chocolate, crisps and soft drinks.
Public telephone.
Helpline phone.
Gardens maintained by Friends of Dunbar Station
ScotRail timetables (detailing all stopping trains) are always available in the station. Train information displays are in the waiting room and on the platform.
Local rail timetables:
National rail timetables:
https://nationarail.co.uk
PUBLIC TRANSPORT CONNECTIVITY
Information on onward connections/buses are on the wall outside station building facing people arriving from Dunbar rather than people getting off the train.
The following bus services operate from Dunbar Town Centre and from a stop at the end of Station Road, Dunbar. (3/4 minute walk). Most buses leave from Dunbar High Street (5 minutes walk). Walk out of the station up Station Road, bear left and cross the road, and turn right into a short one way road and into the High Street. Timetables of local bus services are available at the station or can be downloaded below:
East Coast Buses Download timetable at https://eastcoastbuses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/170423_ECBTimetable_v2.pdf
106 Dunbar – Haddington – Musselburgh
107 Dunbar – West Barns – East Linton – Haddington – Edinburgh via A1
Borders Buses Download timetable at https://www.bordersbuses.co.uk/images/253Aug17.pdf
253 Berwick upon Tweed – Innerwick – Dunbar – West Barns – East Linton – Haddington – Edinburgh via A1
Eve Coaches of Dunbar Download timetables at http://www.eveinfo.co.uk/bus-services/
120 Dunbar – West Barns – East Linton – Tyninghame – Whitekirk – North Berwick
130 Dunbar local service including journeys to Stenton, Innerwick and Thornton Loch, and Spott.
Taxis There is no taxi rank at this station. Pre hired taxis can be ordered at the station.
An (old) street map board on fence beside former café
Town map at station highlighting local attractions
Cycle/walking/wheelchair access
It is difficult to cross the top of Station Road because wide corner radii make the road entrance very wide. Cars can enter Station Road at speed. It is necessary for all pedestrians and wheelchair users coming from the north, south and west to cross the top of Station Road because there is only a pavement on the east side.
There is no obvious or direct walking route from Station Road to Dunbar High Street as it is necessary to cross several roads and desire lines do not match up with actual crossing points (where the drop kerbs are).
Access to the station from the south is convoluted and walking time could be cut by 3-4 minutes by installing a ramp/stairs from the tunnel to the platform. A second platform is currently in course of approval and building, and access to this will feature a lift.
Cycling from the South of Dunbar to the train station means going through the underpass then onto Countess Road (not always easy to pull out due to parked cars). Then cyclists need to cycle all the way round the roundabout to access the station by road. Access to Dunbar station from the South side of the East coast mainline, involves walking from that side of the town under the railway (basically directly under the station) and walk up and around to the station adding minutes and distance to the walk.
Private vehicle access
Car park and Station Road parking (managed by ScotRail) often has a few spaces. Car parking charges are in force. Many people prefer to park on Countess Road because it is free.
Local attractions and how to get there
East Linton & Haddington
Perryman’s bus 253, Eve’s 120 and East Coast Buses 107 run from Dunbar High Street
Stenton & Spott
Eve’s 130 Bus
Innerwick
Perryman’s 253 to Berwick-upon-Tweed from Dunbar High Street
John Muir Way/ North Sea Cycle Routes
Several long-distance tourist walking and cycling routes pass Dunbar station
Belhaven Beach
Coast to Coast Surf School www.c2csurfschool.com – based at the station, runs minibus service for its customers to Belhaven Beach
Dunbar Castle/Harbour and beaches
There are ‘heritage’ signs at top of Station Road but are not particularly visible.
East Links Family Park www.eastlinks.co.uk
Perryman’s bus 253, Eve’s 120 and East Coast Buses 107 run from High Street
Foxlake Adventures
Wakeboarding Centre: www.foxlake.co.uk – Perryman’s bus 253, Eve’s 120 and East Coast Buses 107 run from Dunbar High Street
Hailes Castle (Historic Scotland)
Ruins of the oldest stone castle in Scotland https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/hailes-castle/ – Perryman’s bus 253, Eve’s 120 and East Coast Buses 107 run from Dunbar High Street to East Linton and then 2 mile walk.
Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot (National Trust for Scotland)
Pleasant 8km walk along the John Muir Way through East Linton or Eve’s bus 120 to Preston Road, then 0.5 mile walk
Binning Wood www.binningwood.co.uk – Formal deciduous woodland.
Eve’s bus 120 passes the entrance to the woods
Torness Visitor Centre www.edfenergy.com/energy/education/visitor-centres
Perryman’s 253 to Berwick-upon-Tweed from Dunbar High Street
Belhaven
Perryman’s bus 253, Eve’s 120 and East Coast Buses 107 run from Dunbar High Street
Thorntonloch/Thurston Manor Caravan sites
Eve local service 130
John Muir Country Park
Perryman’s bus 253, Eve’s 120 and East Coast Buses 107 run from Dunbar High Street to West Barns
Pressmennan Wood (Near Stenton)
Eve Coaches 130 Dunbar to Stenton. Pressmennan is a 2 mile walk from there.
Local guidebooks and maps
John Muir Birthplace has a good selection of local guidebooks and maps. Sustaining Dunbar produces a range of local cycling guides.
Development plans
ELC has proposals for extending the car park and moving the bus stop to a spot close by the station entrance with access for buses, pedestrians and cyclists from Spott Road.
A second platform is scheduled to be built at Dunbar station to enable an increase in rail services to be effected.
