R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

Route characteristics
DESCRIPTION The West Highland Line is a 180-mile-long single-track rural
mixed-traffic railway with passing loops, which runs from Glasgow and terminates
at Fort William, Mallaig and Oban, the last two locations being ferry terminals
serving the Western Isles. The line has a regular passenger service. There is also
an overnight sleeper service from Fort William to London, regular charter trains
and a summer steam-hauled service. While freight traffic is predominantly
concentrated in the Fort William area, there are other terminals on the line.
Similarly, the line from Inverness to the north is a 231-mile-long single-track,
rural mixed-traffic railway with passing loops, which runs from Inverness and
Route vision
Our vision is that the route will continue to provide a much-valued social role of
linking small towns and settlements with larger conurbations and tra n s p o rt hubs
throughout the ye a r, while also serving the seasonal tourist industry. These links
also include the fe rry terminals serving many of the Scottish Islands. The route will
c o n t i nue to be maintained for the existing tra f fi c, and will be appropri a t e ly
enhanced and developed in order to meet our customers’ requirements.
Passenger travel is predicted to grow but is likely to require further
encouragement through continued good mar keting, sound reliability and the
provision of enhanced journey opportunities in conjunction with the tourist
industry and the opening of new stations. These will need to be selectively
funded and of designs suitable for the market that they ser ve.
Route development and customer requirements
ScotRail are primarily seeking to maintain and improve performance. They
require that Beauly Station is reopened to provide a new facility for passengers.
Designs have been prepared, and construction will be completed in 2000.
The West Coast Railway require improved facilities for their steam train
operations on the West Highland Lines. In particular, they require turntables at
Fort William and Mallaig.
EWS require improved access to load and unload trains at times and locations
to suit their customers, and to operate trains with larger loads. This year, we
terminates at Kyle of Lochalsh, Wick and Thurso, the latter location being near
the ferry terminal serving the Orkney Isles.
As well as regular passenger services, it also carries charter services. Freight
traffic is now being reestablished on a more regular basis over the entire line.
Apart from a pocket of conventional signalling in the Fort William area, the
route is controlled from RETB centres at Banavie and Inverness.
There are 67 passenger stations on the route as well as several railconnected
freight facilities. The railway provides a vital social lifeline.
We anticipate that the summer-only steam-hauled service between Fort William
and Mallaig on the West Highland Line will continue.
We plan to continue our links and working arrangements with the various
bodies in the area, including the Argyle and West Highland Heritage Trusts, in
order to promote and develop railway tr avel.
Freight traffic on the West Highland Line is well established, and we see
scope for this to grow further. Although currently more sporadic, there is the
potential for freight to expand and become more diverse on the Far North Line,
with the possible opening of several new terminals such as that recently provided
at Kyle of Lochalsh.
will have completed works enabling trains to carry refrigerated-food containers
to run directly from Mossend to Wick and Thurso, and with a ferry connection
to Stromness. With European Railway Development funding, lineside loading will
be expanded on the Far North Line.
Local authorities are concerned to improve station facilities and to reduce
journey times. They also want a new station opened at Beauly.
We will provide disabled facilities at various locations including Dingwall,
Inverness, Strathcarron and Kingussie.
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