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Monday 23 Sep 2024

£1.6m rail improvement work to get underway between Inverness and Tain

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail will begin a series of track improvement works on the Far North Line next month (October) as part of a £1.6m investment in the route.

Engineers will replace rails and sleepers in Merkinch Ferry, Alness and Dingwall overnight every Monday to Thursday from 7 October until 28 November.

The work will prolong the lifespan of the track while helping to keep services reliable on the route for years to come.

To allow engineers safe access to the track, the last train service between Tain and Inverness (22:45 hrs) and vice versa (21:29 hrs) will be replaced by bus services every Monday to Thursday.

This means the final train from Inverness to Tain during the work will be at 18:31 hrs while the last train service in the opposite direction will be at 19:47 hrs.

Daytime and weekend services will be unaffected.

Blair Cockburn, project manager, Network Rail Scotland, said: “The investment we’re making on the Wick line will extend the lifespan of the track while helping to keep services reliable for passengers.

“By gaining access to the track earlier than would normally be the case each evening, we’ll be able to maximise productivity through the working week and deliver the project quicker than would otherwise have been the case.

“We are encouraging passengers to plan ahead if travelling during the project and we thank them for their patience and understanding while we complete these vital works.”

Mark Ilderton, service delivery director, ScotRail, said: “While our colleagues at Network Rail carry out this essential work, we will be doing everything we can to keep customers moving.

“It means that we will have replacement buses in operation in place of the last train of the day in each direction between Tain and Inverness, every Monday to Thursday, for the duration of the work.

“Customers should plan their journey in advance, and allow extra time for travel.”

Passengers can check their journeys at www.scotrail.co.uk