Rail passing loop to improve reliability must be in new government plans

Plans for a passing loop on the Far North Line between Inverness and Beauly would dramatically improve train punctuality between Caithness and Inverness and must be in the next Scottish Government’s programme, a Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate has said.

David Green, the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, recently met with the Friends of the Far North Line, which campaigns for rail services north of Inverness, to discuss improvements to the line.

“Passengers know that a 10-minute delay can quickly get out of hand, causing delays to many services and missed connections. The lack of a place for trains to pass each other between Inverness and Muir of Ord is a real headache and puts a cap on the potential to increase services across the north,” Mr Green said.

A proposed passing loop, to be located west of Inverness on the Far North Line, has been widely identified by passengers, engineers, and campaigners as essential to improving reliability on the route.

Network Rail Scotland was previously funded by Transport Scotland to develop a design for the Delmore passing loop to enhance the network’s resilience and reliability. Planning application forms were even submitted several years ago for a temporary access road.

Estimates from around a decade ago put the cost of the project at approximately £1 million, but a lack of funding has since stalled progress despite broad consensus among rail campaigners on its importance to improving the line.

David Green, the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, added: “I am grateful to Ian Budd, the convener of the Friends of the Far North Line, for meeting with me to discuss the challenges of reliability, the age of the class 158s, and the opportunities for freight.

“The new passing loop is not just about improving train times - it’s about supporting economic growth, reducing car dependency, and connecting communities more effectively. It’s a smart investment in a more sustainable future.

“It has been 113 years since any additional track was added to the Far North Line. As a regular passenger, and as a son of parents who worked in the railway, I believe we need to see that statistic consigned to the dustbin of history.

“It is time the Highlands benefitted from the same level of ambition and investment as other parts of Scotland. This project must therefore be on the next Scottish Government’s agenda.”

ENDS.