Train Whistle Blowing?

With respect to railway improvements and the proposed Dalcross rail halt note that:

John Swinney MSP sent the Scottish Minister’s High Level Output Specification (HLOS), for the period 2009-2014, to the Office of Rail Regulation on 13 July 2007. (See note below)

This HLOS noted in terms of the Highlands:

“Infrastructure enhancements required to permit an hourly faster service between Edinburgh and Glasgow and Inverness serving Perth as recommended in the Room for Growth Report and incorporated into the Scotland RUS”.

“Infrastructure enhancements to permit an hourly service between Aberdeen and Inverness” (‘General’ – to improve times and service frequencies for either passengers or freight)

These enhancements for the Highlands are listed as 'Tier 3' with all the attendant provisos, namely that 'tier 3' represents:

“the further outputs that Scottish Minister may wish to implement to respond to the requirements of the National Transport Strategy. It is recognised that at the time of delivery of this specification the outputs and delivery mechanisms have not been fully developed. Funding for implementation will be provided by Scottish Ministers subject to affordability and the availability of resource of capital”.

Transport Scotland informed APT in early 2008 that:

“We will consider the possibility of a station at Dalcross, serving Inverness airport, as part of a package of proposals for the Aberdeen – Inverness line, following the outcome of the HLOS process and through the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). The HLOS affordability process is ongoing with the Rail Regulator and is not expected to be complete until autumn this year”.

The Strategic Transport Projects Review has since been published and the documents can be found on the Transport Scotland web site.

"The STPR has developed a wide range of potential transport projects across the whole of Scotland, informed by projects which had already been put forward by Regional Transport Partnerships and Local Authorities as well as new ideas developed through discussions with other stakeholders.

Across Scotland, a total of 29 major packages of work have been identified as best serving
the needs of Scotland and its regions. These have been developed within a three-tiered
approach"

A new rail halt at Dalcross forms part of Project 19:

"PROJECT 19 – Rail improvements Between Aberdeen and inverness
Aim:

To reduce journey time and increase frequency of service on the train between Aberdeen and
Inverness.

Improvements to the rail line between Aberdeen and Inverness as part of this proposal would
include new loops and line speed improvements, dual track sections and a new station at Dalcross with Park & Ride and an interchange to Inverness Airport. This would allow the introduction of more trains per day between Inverness and Aberdeen (at least one per hour) and additional rail services between Nairn and Inverness (two per hour).

Cost estimate: £250-£500 million*. "

All you transport enthusiasts out there; APT would welcome your views, given these statements and any facts you may have or will determine through your own knowledge or research, on the likelihood of the provision of a rail halt at Dalcross near Inverness Airport.

Remember a rail halt is absolutely necessary to the success of the 'Transport' option that is the whole basis for the A96 Growth Corridor Framework, and the idea of a transport hub at the airport is followed through from the local plan.

Note

[The High Level Output Specification (HLOS) process


A statement of the outputs Scottish Ministers wish to purchase from the rail industry during the next regulatory control period for track access charges.

A responsibility created under the Railways Act 2005.


Required to allow the Office of Rail Regulation to determine whether public sector funding is sufficient to allow Network Rail to deliver industry outputs.

Ministers required to deliver Statement of Funds Available (SoFA) in parallel.]