Although previously announcing that The Easter Jacobite service would run, West Coast Railway Company has announced that all steam trains are cancelled until further notice. Update: Resumed service on 14th July until 6th November – later than normal to satisfy delayed customer demand Since there is an embargo on all…
In the middle of March it was announced that ScotRail trains would be halved in frequency on many lines including the main Edinburgh-Glasgow route, which will be cut to half hourly. Services ended early, with the last trains leaving in mid evening on some routes. The West Highland Lines had…
The Spring 2020 edition of West Highland News Plus has just been sent out to members. It is, as usual packed full of news, articles and pictures about the West Highland Lines. As the cover states: “The only magazine spotlighting the West Highland Lines and the ScotRail Network past and…
Storm Ciara challenged all parts of the UK and the West Highland Line was closed until Network Rail carried out a ‘Line proving exercise’ by running a locomotive along the entire route to confirm that the line was clear and safe (Blown trees and ballast washouts). The picture reveals a…
Network Rail are currently undertaking important work to protect the railway from potential landslips and rock-falls from the hillsides and embankments around the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct. The work will protect 14 rock cuttings over a two and a half mile stretch of single-track railway between Locheilside and Lochailort encompassing both…
The Scottish Government announced in December 2019 that the current operator of Scotland’s Railway is to have its contract ceased by early 2022. The Friends of the West Highland Lines are committed to promotion and protection of the lines serving the West Highlands and are well aware and disappointed that…
‘Renewing Britain’s Railways: Scotland’ is a new book released by Amberley Publishing as a retrospective of the Scottish network during the last few years. Written by FWHL Co-Webmaster Gordon Webster, it includes a comprehensive chapter about the West Highland and Oban lines. It includes 150 colour images in sharp, high…
This unusual view of a 156 DMU ‘parked in a Crianlarich siding is assumed to be a consequence of the severe flood damage to the line on 4th August 2019 when the area was the victim of severe thunderstorms. Parts of the track bed were washed away between Ardlui and…
Published 26/11/2018. Recent information has been released by Transport Scotland outlining thoughts on how to ‘kit-out’ the proposed Class 153 single carriage units for the transport of Cycle, Ski and other outdoor sports equipment on Scotland’ scenic railway routes. The proposal is to add the 153 carriage to the current…
The picture on the left is a computer generated image, supplied by Network Rail, of how the interior of Queen Street Station will look in 2020 when the £120 million redevelopment is completed. Queen Street is Scotland’s 3rd busiest station and is being transformed to allow for platform extension to…
