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Thursday 12 Dec 2024

£3m investment will close the gap for Dunkeld and Birnam passengers

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail will soon begin a £3m project to upgrade the platforms at Dunkeld and Birnam station. 

Part of both platforms will be raised, with a gentle connecting ramp being provided between the existing platform surface and the newly raised sections. 

Work at the station will begin in January, with part of each platform closed whilst the work takes place to the rear of the footbridge at the south end of the station. 

During the work, the length of the platforms will be reduced to 97m so that construction work can be carried out safely.

Platform 1 will have the level raised along a 53-metre section, with a 33-metre section of platform 2 also being upgraded. The new raised platform lengths will be 150m (Platform 1) and 120m (Platform 2).

Passengers at Dunkeld and Birnam station currently have to take a significant step up or down when getting on or off trains, which can be difficult for many people to do easily. 

Some ScotRail and LNER services will be unable to stop at Dunkeld and Birnam during the work as a result of the improvements taking place.

Information on the affected trains will be available at stations, at ticket offices, on ScotRail’s and LNER’s website and social media feeds. After the work is complete, in early summer, all services which currently call at the station will operate as normal.

Alan Ross, Network Rail Scotland’s director of engineering and asset management, said: “This work is part of our strategy for investing in Scotland’s stations to help us ensure we run a safe and reliable railway for our customers for years to come.

“We understand the inconvenience the work may cause for some passengers and our lineside neighbours and we appreciate their patience and understanding while we deliver these vital improvements.”

Phil Campbell, ScotRail Customer Operations Director, said: “We thank customers for their patience while this improvement work is carried out. Once complete, this upgrade will make Dunkeld and Birnam a safer and more accessible station.

“While a small number of services won’t stop at the station during the works, we’re confident that these changes will deliver long-term benefits for customers travelling to and from Dunkeld and Birnam.”

Jess Pepper and Lachlan McEwan, co-coordinators of the Dunkeld and Birnam Community Station Group, said: “It is fantastic that work is already underway, and will begin on site in January 2025, to raise the platform at Dunkeld and Birnam Station.

“This improvement has been long awaited, and is being warmly welcomed by those who value, rely upon and would like to use services to and from this historic station. It will improve safety, accessibility and enable many more people to access rail services to and from the area, and across Scotland. 

“Through collaboration with the community, Network Rail and many partners, this exciting development is just one of three work streams to make the station more accessible for everyone to travel by active and sustainable travel - and importantly, to restore and bring this incredible A-listed station building back into community use.”