Highland and Moray train timetable changes coming into force this weekend, ScotRail advises passengers on Far North, Kyle, Highland Mainline and Inverness-Aberdeen lines
Rail passengers in the north are being urged to remember timetables will change this weekend - with improvements for travellers on the Far North and Highland Mainline included.
New timetables come into force on Sunday on all routes.
In the Highlands the new timetables have led to several changes - including the return of late night trains from Inverness to Tain on Friday and Saturday nights.
Those services, which will depart the Highland capital at 11.12pm, were ‘temporarily’ mothballed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and are finally returning to tracks on a trial basis - with passengers urged to ‘use it or lose it’. The trains were previously very popular with weekend revellers travelling to and from Inverness and Ross-shire communities.
Elsewhere, a new direct morning service will also launch from Inverness to Edinburgh.
And commuters on the Far North and Kyle lines are being urged to check for some changes to morning commutes on the Monday-Saturday timetable - with the 6.26am Lairg to Inverness service now starting at 7.02am instead from Monday, May 19 onwards.
To accommodate its new arrival time into Inverness of 8.50am, the first train out of Kyle of Lochalsh - which previously departed at 6.11am - will now be setting off at the earlier time of 5.45am and arriving into Inverness at 8.29am.
Meanwhile, Moray and Nairnshire passengers will also see some changes. The return of the late night Tain trains has resulted in the axeing of an “underused morning service” from Elgin to Inverness to free up the necessary rolling stock.
While many changes across the network are minor, ScotRail is urging all customers to check their journeys in advance, as other train times may have changed as well.
Customers can view updated train times at scotrail.co.uk or via the ScotRail app. Timetables are also available to download from the ScotRail website.
Scott Prentice, ScotRail Strategy and Planning Director, said: “We’re reminding customers that our enhanced timetable goes live this Sunday. These changes will transform travel options for people across Fife and other parts of Scotland.
“Whether it’s more frequent services, better connections, or more seats on trains, we’re committed to delivering a rail service that is safe, reliable, and encourages people to choose rail as their preferred mode of sustainable transport.”
