Boost to Inverness-Elgin rail service
Improvements to the passenger rail service between Inverness and Elgin are to start rolling this month, in time for Christmas travellers.
Nine additional services have been announced providing close to an hourly service for much of the day between the Highland capital and the Moray capital with Nairn and Forres in between.
The new services will provide more than 1,500 additional seats each day, providing 60 per cent more capacity which promises to be a boon for commuters and shoppers in both directions.
And ScotRail promise journey times of around 40 minutes between Elgin and Inverness making travel times “considerably faster than car.”
ScotRail also says that the new services offer the opportunity to build a platform for better integration with existing local bus services, for example between Elgin and Lossiemouth.
The new Inverness to Elgin trains which start rolling on December 9, are part of a massive package of rail improvements also coming to other parts of Scotland from next month.
They include the fastest journey time between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street of 42 minutes, and rail journeys in key locations that will soon be faster than car journeys.
Mike Smith, manager of Inverness Bid, said: “Access to Inverness is crucial to the city and the Highlands so we welcome this.
“However, we also need improvements to other rail services to the city both for visitors and also for people who are coming to work here.”
ScotRail said: “We’re building the best railway Scotland has ever had. The investment we are making now will transform Scotland’s railway for years to come.
“We’re introducing brand new electric trains, recreating an InterCity network with high-speed trains, and upgrading many existing trains. This will mean more seats, faster journeys, and even better services.”
