ScotRail is set to announce major rail improvements for passengers in the north of Scotland at a meeting in Kingussie today (1st May).

Business Development Manager, Scott Prentice, is meeting the Cairngorms National Park Authority and local residents to discuss a new timetable for the Highland mainline.

£57 million is being invested in improving the Highland Mainline, which will allow more and faster journeys between Inverness and the Central Belt.

The whole timetable is being redrawn and will see an extra eight journeys on the line each day.

By the end of 2019: (From the ScotRail website)

• Services will become faster and more reliable as Aviemore and Pitlochry stations receive upgraded signalling. Arriving trains will no longer have to stop and wait for services going in the opposite direction.
• All services between Inverness and Glasgow and Edinburgh will be operated by our refurbished InterCity trains. These trains will provide more than 2,500 extra seats each day, increasing seating capacity by 50%. Customers will also benefit from extra luggage space, greater comfort and an enhanced food and drink service.
• There will be an hourly service between Inverness, Aviemore and Pitlochry to Perth and Edinburgh or Glasgow. All stations on the route will benefit from the enhanced timetable.

What did the officials say?

Scott Prentice said:

“I am looking forward to meeting with our customers in Kingussie, answering their questions about the improvements we are making, and better understanding the travel needs of communities in Badenoch and Strathspey.

“Our customers along the Highland Mainline can look forward to faster and more comfortable journeys on our iconic InterCity trains, and much-improved connectivity to Inverness, Perth and the Central Belt.

“We are working day and night to deliver these changes to our customers. We are building the best railway Scotland has ever had, and the Highlands are central to that.”

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