Reports signal way ahead for north rail services

The conclusions of two reports on enhancing rail services in the north of Scotland are being presented to key rail policy makers in Edinburgh today (Tuesday 27 June).

Both demonstrate how significant service enhancements on all of the Highland area's railway lines could be made for a relatively modest investment in national rail terms.

The reports highlight that with improved rolling stock and investment of £55million, the Highland Main Line between Inverness and Glasgow/Edinburgh could accommodate an hourly service and a journey time of 2 hours 45 minutes - a saving of 44 minutes on current times. This would make the rail journey more competitive with road travel, encouraging people to change mode - reducing congestion and traffic emissions.

The key works proposed to the Highland Main Line include:

• Re-doubling the entire four-mile length between Culloden and Daviot;
• Building a passing loop at Ballinluig;
• Plain line realignment and recanting along the route;
• Works to under-bridges where restrictions exist;
• Works to Kingswood tunnel at Birnam Hill.

Looking even further ahead, more significant infrastructural work in the Fife region could further reduce north journey times to Edinburgh to 2 hours 30 minutes. These improvements would also benefit services to Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and the North East.

The reports were jointly commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), HITRANS and the Highland Rail Partnership. One looked at the capacity of the current rail infrastructure in the Highlands, assessing how much future growth it could cope with. It also provided cost estimates for specific, identified enhancements. The other looked into the likely future demand for rail services, and analysed the economic benefits of some of the key service enhancements.

Chairman of HITRANS and The Highland Rail Network, Cllr Charlie King said: "The partnership of key bodies and agencies involved in transport issues in the Highlands and Islands have high ambitions and expectations of an enhanced rail network in the future. Rail is already an important driver in the economy supporting over 1,500 FTE jobs. These reports help underline the further potential that an enhanced rail network can give to the Highlands."

Director of global connections at HIE Douglas MacDiarmid said: "These reports will help complement and inform the strategic planning activity that is currently taking place into Scotland's rail infrastructure. Today's event in Edinburgh will allow us to present the findings of these reports to colleagues in the Scottish Executive and policy makers in the rail industry.

"The enhancements proposed for the Highland Main Line represents very good value for rail projects in a UK context and would deliver significant economic benefits for the north of Scotland, contributing to its increasing profile as a globally attractive location."

Elsewhere in Highland, the reports consider the possibilities for increasing freight and charter operations on the Kyle Line (Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh) along with provision of a commuter service on this route.

The options for the West Highland Lines (Fort William and Oban) include a substantial improvement to services by running separate trains to both destinations - currently the trains run together to/from Glasgow and split at Crianlarich. This has led to concerns over passenger capacity at peak times. Allowing separate trains would need additional trains and crew, but would improve the services to these areas. Other identified options were to improve overall line speeds at an estimated cost of £10-£15million and allowing heavier freight traction.
 
Linked to the options above, more effective timetabling on the Mallaig Line would, said the report provide more attractive travel choices although constraints like the current rolling stock operating as 'through' trains to and from Glasgow would require to be relaxed.

Provision has been made for the introduction of Phase 2 of the 'Invernet' commuter service on the Inverness to Elgin Line, including provision of a new passenger station at Dalcross (Inverness Airport).

The reports also looked at potential improvements to the Far North Line from Inverness to Wick/Thurso including the construction of the 'Dornoch Link'. Such a link, involving the construction of bridges across the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet in Sutherland, along with major infrastructure works, would result in a 40 minute reduction in travel time and cost in the region of £73million (excluding signalling costs).

It was estimated that such a journey would generate just over 13,000 additional passenger trips in the first year - however given the high construction costs, it was concluded that this option did not offer good value for money. Alternative options to reduce journey times between Inverness and Caithness were highlighted - including passing loop speeds, line speed improvements and time savings at level crossings.

Ron McAulay, Director of Network Rail in Scotland said: "We very much welcome this input from our partners in the Highlands; these reports will feed into the process of compiling a future strategy for Scotland's growing railway. Network Rail is currently in the process of co-ordinating a route strategy which will be presented to Transport Scotland for consideration later this year.

"The project is an industry-wide consultation exercise to examine current and forecast demands on the railway and the findings will be used to identify opportunities for growth. Network Rail is committed to running a safe, efficient and reliable rail network; we recognise the vital role that the railway plays in connecting Highland communities."