Loss of late ScotRail night train between Inverness and Tain impacting night-time economy in Highland capital, warns business leader
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Failure to bring back a late night train linking Inverness with Ross-shire communities is having an “affect on the city’s night-time economy”, a prominent business leader has warned.
Inverness Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive, Colin Marr, has called on ScotRail to restore the service “at the next timetable update” after the launch of the rail operator’s summer timetables spelt more disappointment for weekend revellers.
The late night Inverness-Tain service, which departed the Highland capital at 11.33pm every Friday and Saturday night, was ‘temporarily’ dropped when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020. It’s return journey from Tain was also axed.
Despite the pandemic’s lockdowns ending several years ago, the service has not resumed amid a backdrop of a gradual rise in passenger numbers that are still below pre-Covid levels.
ScotRail has cited a change in rail passenger behaviour for the sluggish rise in numbers, with fewer people commuting and more passengers using trains for leisure purposes.
But, with the late night trains having always been geared towards catering for the region’s night-time leisure economy, business advocates and politicians have long called for the Tain train’s return.
And when ScotRail unveiled its latest timetable last week, which goes live on June 2, there was yet more disappointment when the late train was yet again absent from the schedules.
Reacting to the service’s continued snub, Mr Marr said: “It was disappointing to see that the late night train from Inverness to Tain has not been restored in the new ScotRail timetable.
“This is obviously a problem for people from Tain, and all the stops along the way, who want a weekend night out in Inverness and would like a wider choice of ways to get home.
“It also has an affect on our night time economy businesses as some of these people will now choose not to travel into Inverness. ScotRail has been saying for some time that the restoration of this service is under review. We hope it is serious about that review and that we’ll see the service restored at the next timetable update.”
The region’s politicians have also long called for the train’s return, with Highland MSP Kate Forbes last year saying that she had been approached by “a number of constituents” about the issue, and said that “the night-time economy in Inverness is growing, and I think the train timetable should adapt accordingly too”.
Jamie Stone, the Tain-based MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said the service was popular and a boost for numerous communities in Easter Ross, and urged ScotRail to think again following the latest disappointing news.
He added that he had direct experience of the journey, often using the late train when returning from Westminster prior to the pandemic.
He said: "The loss of the late service from Inverness to Tain was a serious blow. For me personally, I have historically relied on this journey to get me home from Westminster when I couldn't get away before the early afternoon, which is more common than not even now.
"We all understood that, during the pandemic season, some services had to be reduced. That was unavoidable. But now that the pandemic is over I am as disappointed as anyone to not see the service restored. I hope that the Scottish Government and ScotRail think again."
Asked why the late train is still absent from its timetables, ScotRail said: “The way passengers use rail to and from Inverness has fundamentally changed over the last four years. There are far fewer commuters travelling from the south, east and north. However more people are making intercity journeys to Aberdeen, Perth and the central belt.”
A spokesperson for the rail operator added that it was also “closely monitoring” the usage of the late night Inverness-Elgin service, which leaves at 10.15pm and was introduced in December, “to see if this is generating new demand” - implying that it is testing the water with other late night services before making any decision.
They also said that they had started a review of the timetable and that “late night services to a range of destinations, including Tain will be included in the review”.
