Origins

This request stop is close by to the Isle of Man’s only commercial airport, from which it takes its name.  Situated behind an Industrial Estate beside the Silverburn River, it was introduced as a stopping place in 1967 at the request of Lord Ailsa and was designed to draw passengers away from competition by buses and taxis between the airport and the other towns.  When it was first built, it consisted of only a simple nameboard.

 

Development

Latterly the halt received a small waiting platform consisting of built up sleepers in 2002 and it is now complemented by a wooden platform bench. Trains only stop here on request, if a passenger wishes to board the train at this stop they can signal the driver to stop the train, or to alight the train the guard must be notified in advance.  Despite its location, some distance from the airport terminal it remains quite popular with travelers.  In the past it was a busy halt when the Southern Agricultural Fair was held annually in the great meadow and former racecourse which is just adjacent to the halt.  Bisected by the popular Millennium Way walk, it also provides a popular drop-off place for ramblers.

 

Today

The station although diminutive and situated a considerable distance by foot from the airport, remains quite popular and something of a novelty when compared with the rail connections provided by counterparts in the U.K. and remains used regularly.  It can be found from the main road signposted by brown notices being the designated colour for tourist attractions.