The works will impact Inverness-Aberdeen, Kyle and Far North services at different weekends in October.
(Permalink) Aberdeen Elgin Engineering Works Far North Line Forres Garve Helmsdale Inverness Kyle of Lochalsh Wick

ScotRail has released plans to change the hours at its staffed ticket offices which could result in shorter opening times throughout the week. In the north and north-east, changes are proposed at stations including Huntly, Aviemore, Dingwall, Forres, Elgin, Keith, Kingussie and Nairn.

Many stations will have a change in the pattern of opening hours. The previous pattern was of Monday to Friday hours, which will now be replaced with Monday to Thursday hours with changes to the service on a Friday.
(Permalink) Aviemore Dingwall Elgin Forres Huntly Keith Kingussie Nairm Opening hours Ticket offices

Engineers dealing with severe floods on the Inverness-Aberdeen line are still unable to do a full inspection sparking fears of more disruption.
(Permalink) Elgin Forres

Disruption for passengers on Inverness-Aberdeen line until at least Saturday. Part of the track has been damaged between Forres and Elgin with services out of Inverness terminating in Forres, and journeys from Aberdeen ending at Elgin.
(Permalink) Elgin Flooding Forres

Rail services on the Kyle Line have resumed after a landslip was cleared overnight, but flooding has washed away track on the Inverness-Aberdeen line.
(Permalink) Dingwall Elgin Flooding Forres Landslip

Scotlands newest station has been officially opened as part of the Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project.
It is hoped that the project, funded by the Scottish Government, will transform rail travel between the two cities and slash journey times.
The station was completed during the recent 10-day closure of the line, whilst the railway was moved onto a straighter, double-tracked alignment to the north of the old station.
As a part of the project, the station car park has more than doubled in size, with 58 parking spaces, including three disabled spaces, four oversized spaces and two electric car charging points.
The stations two platforms are also linked by a fully accessible footbridge and lifts.
(Permalink) Forres

ScotRail services began calling at the relocated Forres station between Inverness and Elgin on October 17. The replacement station was built by BAM Nuttall; AFM Electrical Ltd acted as subcontractor to Kelly Rail for electrical works.
(Permalink) Forres

The HiTrans Autumn Newsletter contains many interesting railway items.



Elgin: the loop is being extended at the west end over Wards Road. Signal control is passing to Inverness. New power points will give access to Elgin Yard which will become a ScotRail overnight stabling depot.



Forres: The new two-platform station is due for completion soon, allowing trains to cross without delay. Waterford level crossing is to be closed, with access via the new bridge over the railway at the new station.



Inverness Airport, Dalcross: Provision of a new railway stop at Inverness Airport is dependent on closure of the Dalcross (Petty) level
crossing. The Case for Closure is being drawn up by Network Rail.



Inverness Rail East: Given the scale of developments east of the A9, HITRANS proposed to investigate the feasibility of providing stations at
Seafield, Inverness Campus/Beechwood, and Stratton.



Inverness Railway Station: The £6 million upgrade of the railway station featuring improvements to the faade and concourse and introduction of
new retail outlets is under way.



At Rose Street, work is under way to create new fuelling and CET (toilet tanking) facilities for the new Virgin Trains East Coast Inter-City Express
trains. Further work will entail the provision of shore supplies to the platforms.



Invergordon: Talks are being held with ScotRail regarding a possible upgrade of the Inverness-bound platform (currently under the eaves) and
new signage to benefit passengers from cruise liners berthed at the port looking for independent off-boat excursions.

(Permalink) Dalcross Elgin Forres Invergordon Inverness Inverness Airport New station

A £170m investment package has been confirmed by First Minister Alex Salmond for the Inverness to Aberdeen railway.
Over the next five years, there will be a redoubling of the track between Aberdeen and Inverurie.
Platforms at Insch and Elgin will be extended to accommodate six-car trains.
Signalling improvements will be made at Elgin, the station at Forres relocated and work done so new stations can be built at Kintore and Dalcross.
Kintore's original station was closed in the 1960s. Dalcross is close to Inverness Airport.
Future phases of the scheme will support an hourly service between the cities with average journey time reducing to about two hours, it was announced.
(Permalink) Aberdeen Dalcross Elgin Forres Insch Inverness Inverness Airport Kintore New station

Railtrack


Post Hatfield Crash repairs


On the 15th there were three locations affected by Gauge Corner Cracking.

200 points and 75,000 yards of track have been renewed.


Junction remodeling


40 junctions which are known to be bottlenecks are to be remodeled.


Speed restrictions


As of the 15th 53 speed restrictions existed in Scotland.


New station facilities and station regeneration


81 stations have been identified for new toilets.

New Information Systems (CIS) will be installed at Hyndland, Partick and Queen Street Low Level.

Partick station is to be refurbished and platforms resurfaced.

Gourock station is due to be rebuilt and Railtrack is in discussion with developers.

Perth station is to be regenerated with footbridges and canopies renewed.

Broughty Ferry has been rebuilt at the cost of £1,000,000.


Train Protection Warning System


Installation of Train Protection Warning System on Scotland's railways and trains continues and is expected to be complete by December 2002.


Edinburgh Crossrail


The contracts for the Edinburgh Crossrail scheme (reopening of freight only route from Portobello to Brunstane and Newcraighall to passengers) have been signed with the council and contractors.


Stirling to Alloa and Dunfermline


The details of reopening the closed but mostly extant line from Stirling to Alloa and on to Kincardine have not yet been resolved.


Larkhall to Milngavie


Although there have been some doubts about the reopening of the closed line between Larkhall and Hamilton, Railtrack and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive are continuing discussions.


Aberdeen to Inverness improvements


Railtrack is considering its options for improving capacity of the Aberdeen to Inverness line.


A loop may be opened at Orton.


Forres loop may be altered to run by the Forres goods loop and a two platform station opened on the loop.


Signalboxes between Elgin and Nairn may be closed.


Proposals will be drawn up to 'level 4' (complete design) and given to the Strategic Rail Authority by the end of the year. Actual changes will be delayed as work on signaling is being focused on installing Train Protection Warning System until December 2002.


Members of the RPC and public suggested that perhaps a section of double track at the beginning of the route in Aberdeen and Inverness would help - such as that which the Inverness and Perth has. It was also commented that the station at Keith can be a bottleneck as the loop is located to the east of the station - a train at the station has to occupy the Keith to Elgin section and consequently trains have to be held at Keith loop or Elgin loop when there is a train at the station.


Cornton Level Crossing


Cornton Level crossing, by Stirling, is fitted with cameras which photograph every road vehicle which passes through the lights at red. 250 vehicles were photographed between January and May this year, many belonging to local people. The crossing has been checked and complies to safety standards. The council and Railtrack are considering further traffic calming options including permanent closure of the road.


Ninewells


The council in Dundee is considering opening a station at Ninewells which would serve new developments in the area, the airport and Ninewells Hospital.


Tay Bridge repair


Repairs to the Tay Bridge are due to be complete in 2003 and will allow higher speed running on the bridge and freight to pass over it.


Edinburgh Park


Railtrack and New Edinburgh Ltd have resolved difficulties and a station at Edinburgh Park can now be built. It could be open by 2003.
(Permalink) Alloa Brunstane Cornton Level Crossing Crash Edinburgh Crossrail Elgin Forres Glasgow Queen Street Hatfield Hyndland Larkhall Nairn New station Newcraighall Ninewells Partick Perth Portobello Railtrack TPWS Tay Bridge