The Scottish Government has announced that ScotRail is set to come under state control following the termination of the Abellio Franchise contract in March 2022. ScotRail services will then be provided within the public sector by an ‘arms length’ company owned and managed by the Government. The Friends of the…
ScotRail hopes to see the first of its five ‘Active Travel’ coaches converted from Class 153 single-car diesel multiple-units entering service during the May 2021 timetable. The main challenge is the training of 38 drivers from Oban and Glasgow Queen Street depots whilst coronavirus social distancing rules remain in place.…
The Spring 2021 edition of the Society’s magazine ‘West Highland News Plus’ has now been published. It is the only magazine spotlighting the West Highland Lines, the ScotRail network, past and present and West Coast marine transport, ‘On The Waterfront’. The magazine’s 60 pages are packed with items of interest,…
17/02/2021 – A local train for local people – ScotRail to the rescue. West Highland CRP helps ScotRail make the right decision: temporary service introduced to Fort William departing Rannoch 08:52 every Monday and Thursday. COVID-19 travel restrictions during lockdown have seen ScotRail’s passenger figures drop by around 90%. On…
The Glenfinnan Station Museum have just published a new book about the construction of the ‘Mallaig Extension’ – the line from Fort Willam to Mallaig which opened in 1901, some seven years after the line to Fort William opened. Generously illustrated with more than a hundred recently-discovered photographs from 1900,…
Glenfinnan Viaduct was bathed in stunning red light to mark the 102nd anniversary of Armistice Day, on the evening off 11 November 2020. A wonderful tribute to the brave men and women who fought for our country, the event was coordinated by The Stage Group in conjuction with Network…
The Fort William-London Euston Caledonian Sleeper service has been cancelled, at least until 24th March, due to COVID-19 restrictions. The situation changes frequently and in additional there is the prospect of industrial action to add to the usual Christmas and New Year service changes. Please consult this Caledonian Sleeper Service…
ScotRail have provided an update on progress on the modification of 153DMUs for transporting cycles (reference the News item first published in November 2018). As intimated 18 months ago, ScotRail is transforming five Class 153 trains to carry up to 20 bikes to enhance existing services on the West Highland…
Last night (Thursday April 2) the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct joined landmarks across the UK turning blue to show public support for NHS staff treating coronavirus patients. Alan Ross, director of engineering and asset management at Network Rail said; “We are delighted to be working with the Stage Group to illuminate …
Publishing of our Summer 2020 issue of West Highland News PLUS magazine, normally published in June, has been postponed. Doug Carmichael, Editor and Chairman, Friends of The West Highland Lines, said “the (provisional) plan is to produce and publish a ‘bumper’ combined Summer/Autumn/Winter edition in September”. This is a consequence…
