In just one month, Network Rail engineers will begin a £9m project at Inverness station and along the Kyle line to help keep the railway safe and reliable.
The route, which links communities across the Highlands and attracts thousands of visitors each year, will close for three weeks to allow major work to be completed.
The closure will run from Saturday 28 November to Friday 18 December inclusive, with services between Dingwall and Kyle of Lochalsh resuming on Saturday 19 December.
During the three-week closure, a range of renewals, repairs and other maintenance activities will take place:
- At Inverness station, engineers will renew track and sleepers at platforms 5 and 6 and refurbish equipment that allows trains to move between different tracks, helping to improve reliability and keep services running smoothly.
- Around 7km of track will be renewed at several locations, including between Welsh’s Bridge and Rose Street level crossing in Inverness, Achanalt and Rosebank near Achnasheen, and between Strathcarron and Stromeferry, providing a smoother and more dependable railway for passengers.
- Drainage improvements will be carried out through the renewal of several culverts between Dingwall, Achnasheen and Stromeferry, helping to reduce the impact of adverse weather on the railway.
- Structural repairs and track renewal work will take place at multiple railway bridges, including Carron Viaduct, helping to maintain a safe and reliable railway for years to come.
Network Rail and ScotRail are working together to support passengers during the closure.
Replacement buses will run between Inverness and Dingwall, with amended train services running from Dingwall to Invergordon, Tain, Thurso and Wick.
Gary Hopkirk, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “The Kyle line is an important connection for communities and the many visitors who use it each year, so we know there is never an ideal time to close it.
“This three-week closure gives us the opportunity to complete a significant amount of work in one go, helping to keep the railway safe and reliable for years to come.
“We’re asking passengers to plan ahead and check their journey before travelling, and we thank everyone for their patience while we complete these improvements.”