THE West Highland railway line is to close for nine days in November to undergo £13 million worth of upgrades.
The railway is a vital link between communities in the Highlands and central belt, while also carrying thousands of visitors each year to some of Scotland’s most popular tourist spots. Network Rail explained the investment will help ensure passengers can continue to rely on the railway for everyday journeys, business and tourism well into the future.
Teams of engineers will be working at locations between Helensburgh, Fort William, and Mallaig to renew parts of the track, improve drainage, and maintain key railway structures. The work will help tackle wear and tear across the route, make the railway more resilient to the impacts of severe weather, and reduce the likelihood of infrastructure-related delays and restrictions.
The project includes renewing more than 4km of worn track at locations between Helensburgh and Mallaig, including near Arisaig, Corrour, in the Loch nan Uamh and Beasdale tunnels, at Arrochar & Tarbet station and on Gleann Mama Viaduct, improving reliability and reducing the risk of delays.
Improving drainage and renewing culverts, including between Glen Douglas and Arrochar & Tarbet, to help make the railway more resilient to flooding and extreme weather. Maintaining structures along the line by refurbishing Fassfern Bridge near Spean Bridge and removing a redundant bridge near Loch Eil. Clearing vegetation between Fort William and Arisaig to reduce the risk of disruption.
Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director at Network Rail Scotland, said, “The West Highland Line is one that people really depend on, whether they’re travelling to work, visiting family or exploring some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery. This work is about making sure the route continues to provide a dependable service for the communities and visitors who use it every day.
“We know closing the line isn’t ideal at any time, but it gives us the opportunity to carry out a large amount of work in one go, rather than causing repeated disruption over a longer period. We’d like to thank passengers and local communities for their patience while this takes place and look forward to reopening the line when these improvements are completed.”
