A 10-day blockade on the Aberdeen to Inverness route in early October is set to usher in a set of enhancements that will begin a process of transformation for this largely single-track route across the north east of Scotland. Stage 1 of the Aberdeen to Inverness (A2I) improvement programme will deliver:
■ enhanced commuter services into the cities at the two ends of the line, Elgin – Inverness and Inverurie – Aberdeen;
■ a new, relocated station in Forres;
■ platform extensions at Elgin and Insch;
■ double track at the eastern end of the line;
■ the enabling infrastructure for new stations planned at Dalcross and Kintore.
Stage 2, not yet authorised, concerns an improvement in end-to-end journey times, with the aim of two hours from Aberdeen to Inverness.
NEW STATION AT FORRES
The £332 million Stage 1 work has commenced between Inverness and Elgin and is being undertaken by BAM Nuttall (civils) and Siemens (signalling), with BAM using Aecom and CH2M as consultants on designs. The early work is concentrated at the western end of the line, with the largest element being the creation of a new station in Forres.
Originally a junction station on the Highland Railway system where the now-closed north-south route …
