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Thursday 5 Jun 2025

Work begins this weekend on £11.5m Far North Line project

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Part of the Far North Line will close this Sunday for three weeks to allow major upgrades to take place. 

The line, which dates back to the 19th century, is the UK’s northernmost railway and a vital link for communities across the Highlands. With some track components approaching 100 years old, essential upgrades are now required to maintain its safety and performance for the future. 

The £11.5m investment will deliver significant improvements to the infrastructure, including the refurbishment of a 5-mile stretch between Brora and Helmsdale, and the replacement of nearly 9 miles of track between Invergordon and Fearn. 

The work is being carried out by Network Rail as part of ongoing efforts to modernise Scotland’s railway and support more reliable journeys for passengers. 

To allow engineers to carry out the work safely and efficiently, the line will be closed between Sunday 8 June and Monday 30 June with changes to train services during this period. 

Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “The Far North Line plays a crucial role in connecting remote communities, as well as welcoming visitors to one of Scotland’s most scenic regions.  

“While closing the line is never ideal, this concentrated period of work allows us to deliver the vital upgrades efficiently and avoid prolonged disruption over a longer timeframe. 

“I’m grateful to passengers for their patience and understanding, and we look forward to reopening the line with improvements that will benefit everyone who travels on it.” 

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said: “We understand that this work will mean some temporary disruption to journeys, however, it’s a vital investment in the long-term future of the route. 

 “To keep customers moving throughout the works, we’ll have a rail replacement plan in operation, with buses and a limited train service running where possible. We thank our customers for their patience, and look forward to welcoming them back on the line when the works complete.” 

ScotRail will operate an alternative travel plan to keep customers moving: 

• Buses will replace trains between Inverness and Wick / Thurso, serving key stations including Invergordon, Tain, Ardgay, and Lairg. 

• A limited number of train services will operate between Inverness and Dingwall, calling at intermediate stations. 

• Services between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh will run as normal. 

• On Sunday, 8 June, the 17.54 Inverness to Wick service will be replaced by bus. 

• On Monday, 30 June, the 06:18 and 08:02 Wick to Inverness services will also be replaced by bus. Other ScotRail services between Inverness and Wick are due to operate as normal. 

• Rail replacement buses will not serve Altnabreac or Scotscalder stations, due to access limitations. 

Passengers are advised to plan ahead with travel information available at www.scotrail.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk.