Media centre

Tuesday 2 Oct 2007

MAJOR MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT WORKS FOR HIGHLAND LINE

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail is to undertake extensive maintenance and track improvement works on the Highland Line between Perth and Inverness next month to help reduce the potential impact of severe winter weather on the line. Network Rail will be undertaking a series of earthwork and rock stabilisation projects at Dalnamain, Dalnacardoch and Dunkeld to help guard against rockfalls and landslips. Drainage will also be improved at Dunkeld. In addition to this maintenance and stabilisation work, Network Rail will be renewing sections of track at Muirton, Dalanraoch and Almond Viaduct as part of the planned maintenance and renewals programme. In order to deliver these improvements to the Highlands' rail network as quickly and efficiently as possible, the works will require a nine-day suspension of services between Perth and Inverness from Saturday 10 November to Monday 19 November.

Replacement bus services will be provided serving all stations and connecting into and out of trains at Perth and Inverness for the duration of the closure. Caledonian Sleeper services will be retimed and diverted after Edinburgh to run via Fife to Aberdeen. David Simpson, Network Rail Route Director for Scotland, said:

"This investment and maintenance programme is essential to ensure the continued running of a reliable rail network in the Highlands. "Closing the line for nine days will allow us to complete all of this work quickly and efficiently and mean less long-term disruption to services compared to a series of closures over several months. The work has also been timed to ensure that it causes the minimum of disruption to the valuable Highland tourist trade."

Steve Montgomery, First ScotRail's Operations and Safety Director, said: "These works will involve a high number of replacement buses. We have done everything possible to keep inconvenience to an absolute minimum. Clearly, some journeys will take longer than normal and passengers should allow more time for travel." A full timetable of revised train and replacement bus services will be announced. GNER services will also be affected as a result of the engineering works with trains starting from and terminating at Perth and replacement buses running between Perth and Inverness for the duration of the works. Network Rail is working closely with First ScotRail and other operators to minimise disruption for passengers. Advanced timetable information is available from national Rail Enquiries on 0845 7484950 / www.nationalrail.co.uk