North-east rail upgrade ahead

THE north-east and Highland rail network is in line for an extra £4.5 million investment.

The plans to boost performance on the Aberdeen-Inverness line, Highland main line, East Coast main line, and the Far North line are being made in addition to regular maintenance and, Network Rail Scotland says, will further improve reliability.

Network Rail Scotland says it will spend the money on renewing and upgrading signalling systems, additional track maintenance, new machinery and equipment, increasing line-side vegetation clearance, remote monitoring systems to spot potential faults, and on recruiting more staff at its depots.

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: "Punctuality across the country is improving and our maintenance teams in the north-east and Highlands are working hard to reduce disruption as much as possible.

"This additional investment will be targeted at a range of initiatives which we believe will help to complement the extensive renewal and refurbishment work we already have planned – driving down delays and improving reliability."

This December will also see the completion of the £330 million Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project which includes extra early and late services between Elgin and Aberdeen, and an increase in services calling at Inverurie on weekdays from 45 to 76.

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