ENGINEERS are to carry out £9 million worth of upgrades and repairs to Inverness Railway Station and the Kyle railway line later this year.
The Kyle route, which links communities across the Highlands and attracts thousands of visitors each year, will shut to allow a large amount of work to be completed in one go.
The investment is aimed at keeping the railway in good condition and ensuring it continues to provide a reliable service for passengers travelling across the Highlands.
During the three-week closure, a range of renewals, repairs and other maintenance activities will take place. Around 7km of track will be renewed at several locations – including at Welsh’s Bridge and Rose Street level crossing in Inverness, Achanalt and Rosebank near Achnasheen, and between Strathcarron and Stromeferry.
Drainage improvements will be carried out through the renewal of several culverts between Dingwall, Achnasheen, and Stromeferry, helping to reduce the impact of adverse weather on the railway.
Structural repairs and track renewal work will take place at multiple railway bridges, including Carron Viaduct, helping to maintain a safe and reliable railway for years to come.
At Inverness station, engineers will renew track and sleepers at platforms 5 and 6 and refurbish equipment that allows trains to move between different tracks – helping to improve reliability and keep services running smoothly.
Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director at Network Rail Scotland, said, “The Kyle line is one of Scotland’s most scenic and important routes, connecting communities across the Highlands. This £9m investment will allow us to carry out a significant amount of work in a short period of time, helping us keep the railway safe, reliable and resilient for the future.
“We know that closing the line will cause disruption and we’re sorry for the inconvenience. By bringing together a wide range of upgrades and repairs during one closure, we can complete this work as efficiently as possible and reduce the need for future unplanned disruption. We’d like to thank passengers, communities and businesses along the route for their patience and understanding while we deliver these essential improvements.”
