Aberdeen to Inverness rail improvements

The Aberdeen to Inverness line is approximately 108 miles long and is primarily single track with some passing loops. This makes it impossible to run a clock-face timetable.

The first Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) set outputs, to improve service provision, including hourly Aberdeen to Inverness passenger services completing the journey within two hours.

The rail improvements on this route are being delivered in phases and aim to provide incremental benefits. This project to improve the Aberdeen to Inverness route was completed in December 2019.

Project outputs

Outputs from this £330m project comprised:

• Signalling enhancements between Inverness and Elgin and between Insch and Aberdeen;
• Re-doubling of the line between Inverurie and Kittybrewster Junction, just outside Aberdeen;
• A re-built station at Forres;
• Lengthened platforms at Elgin and Insch stations;
• Track improvements and infrastructure to support new stations at Kintore and Inverness Airport;
• An hourly service between Inverness and Elgin;
• A half-hourly service between Inverurie and Aberdeen, with hourly services continuing to Montrose, calling at all stations, comprising a “cross-rail” service.

Completion of this project nabled additional services to run between Elgin and Inverness, with roughly an hourly service now running between these two cities. It also enabled a half-hourly service between Inverurie and Aberdeen, with one service each hour continuing south to Montrose, providing a “Crossrail” service through Aberdeen.

Kintore Station

The new station at Kintore opened in October 2020, once again providing Kintore with access to the rail network after a gap of 56 years. The new, two-platform station features an accessible footbridge with lifts and a 168-space car park. 24 of the spaces have charging facilities for electric vehicles – the largest such facility in north-east Scotland.

The new station at Dalcross is expected to open in December 2022. It will be a two-platform station with an accessible footbridge with lifts and a 64-space car park.

Completion of Phase 1 enabled additional services to run between Elgin and Inverness, with roughly an hourly service now running between these two cities. It also enabled a half-hourly service between Inverurie and Aberdeen, with one service each hour continuing south to Montrose, providing a “Crossrail” service through Aberdeen.

Inverness Airport Station

The new station at Inverness Airport opened in February 2023. It comprises  a two-platform station with an accessible footbridge with lifts and a 64-space car park.

The works at Inverness Airport also delivered a new 950 metre passing loop which will allow trains on the single line to pass in the opposite direction, renewal of 7 kilometre of track, and installation of an updated innovative signalling system. This will add capacity to this route, build resilience, and enable future freight growth encouraging removal of HGVs from the roads.