Highland Main Line rail services in Badenoch and Strathspey to be cut again
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The Highland Main Line will see fewer trains running from Monday (February 1), with ScotRail citing a big fall in passenger numbers.
Timetable changes were announced earlier this week in response to continuing Scottish Government Covid-19 restrictions on travel.
ScotRail bosses said they are ‘temporarily’ reducing services across the country while passenger demand across all routes is 90 per cent below normal levels.
The following local services will be cut:
* 1941 Edinburgh to Inverness
* 2015 Inverness to Glasgow
The following ScotRail services at the southern end of the Highland Main Line are also being withdrawn potentially affecting onward travel plans:
* 2003 Perth to Edinburgh
* 2041 Edinburgh to Perth
* 2148 Edinburgh to Perth
* 2236 Edinburgh to Perth
* 2249 Perth to Edinburgh
* 2319 Edinburgh to Perth
ScotRail said it will continue revising the critical service being provided during the pandemic.
David Simpson, operations director, said: “The ongoing lockdown restrictions in place are severely reducing the number of people travelling, and the changes being made to the timetable reflect the current demand from customers, while delivering better value for the taxpayer.”
It is the second change from the operator in recent weeks, after the number of carriages on services were reduced earlier in January.
ScotRail said the focus is on continuing to provide a safe and reliable service, particularly for key workers and in support of the vaccination rollout.
The number of services is being reduced to 65 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, while delivering 72 per cent of seats.
ScotRail has consulted with NHS boards across Scotland to ensure shift patterns for key workers are supported as far as possible.
The current law allows only essential journeys on public transport.
Passengers should abide by the Five Rules for Safer Travel which include travel away from the main commuting times; wearing a face mask or covering and, where possible, maintain physical distancing.
