The Herald 28-06-2006

The main line rail journey between Inverness and the Central Belt could become quicker and more competitive in comparison with road travel - and carry as many as 200,000 more passengers a year - for an investment of just £55m.

This is the conclusion of two reports published yesterday on improving rail services in the Highlands. They claim that significant service enhancements on all of the railway lines in the north could be made for a relatively modest investment.

The reports are designed to influence railway strategy in the north up to 2020. They say that, at a cost of £55m, journey times from Inverness to Glasgow and Edinburgh could be cut by 44 minutes to 2hrs 45mins with hourly services.

The key works required include returning the four-mile stretch between Culloden and Daviot to twin track; building a passing loop at Ballinluig, along with general improvements; and work to Kingswood Tunnel at Birnam Hill.

Taking an optimistic view, it is expected that in the first year around 138,000 passenger trips would result from the upgrade, rising to 200,000 by 2020. A good return on investment is expected, with every £1 generating a £2.61 benefit.

More significant infrastructural work in Fife region could further reduce journey times to Edinburgh to 2hrs 30mins and would also benefit services to Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and the north-east. The reports - commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), HITRANS (the Highland transport agency) and the Highland Rail Partnership - also consider possibilities for increasing freight and charter operations from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh along with provision of a commuter service at a cost of around £1.4m.

Ron McAulay, Director of Network Rail in Scotland said: "These reports will feed into the process of compiling a future strategy for Scotland's growing railway."

Press & Journal 17-08-2011

Scottish Government says service could be speeded up by next year.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said a project to reduce times through technical improvements to the railway track would be delivered in stages.

He was responding to a question from Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart who believes that faster rail times on the vital line were crucial to the Highland economy.

Mr Stewart had pressed the Scottish Government to state when the planned reduction of 35 minutes in the rail journey time between Inverness and Edinburgh. would come into effect, and sought a timescale for plan to cut journey times.

The transport minister said improvements would start being made this year, which would lead to reduction in times on some services from 2012.

Transport Scotland said increases in service frequency and line speed enhancements formed phase one of the project, and two additional services would be introduced on the Highland Main Line from December 2011.

Transport Scotland added that it was working closely with Network Rail to develop the next phase of improvements for the route, which may include additional infrastructure improvements, such as passing loops.

Mr Stewart said: "The minister has advised me that these speed improvements will take place between Stanley Junction and Blair Atholl, Inchlea and Newtonmore and Carrbridge and Inverness.

"I will look forward to these improvements, as it is imperative for the Highland economy that we have good business links and routes with the minimum of time spent travelling between the Highlands capital and the other major cities in Scotland if not the UK."