Frank Roach represents HITRANS, working locally from the Lairg railway station. HITRANS headquarters are at Dalcross Airport.
Mr Roach responded to a list of questions A&DCC raised first discussing the funding for the Far North Line which passes us north to Wick and Thurso. Highland Council receives some funds to support services. These funds are not ring-fenced and it is Council priorities which decides whether we see rail improvements from that source.
He discussed schedule improvements, some of which are working well, others not. While the layman may not appreciate it the density of traffic on the line is great. North / South trains crossing over or trainsets being used at Inverness for other services and the fact that the north lines are single-line all bear on how many trains can be supported in a day.
Trains not stopping at Culrain was a timetabling difficulty. Hard as that may be to understand the 11am southbound train must crossover with a northbound train and arrive in Inverness to meet other departing services. Thus the moments lost by a stop at Culrain cannot be supported.
Other intricacies of the timetable were discussed, such at the ‘Ardgay terminator’ or ‘Lairg starter’ which each enable people to get to and from Inverness for a full day’s work.
All in all the greatest support this railway line can receive is for travellers to use it.