Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, has welcomed the news that journey times between Inverness and Glasgow/ Edinburgh are to be cut by up to 17 minutes when a new timetable comes into effect on the 9th December.

Of the 20 direct trains, 15 will be running faster that the current timetable, with 4 running up to a maximum of four minutes slower. The improvements have been made possible by infrastructure upgrades.

In addition to a faster service, the new timetable will see Beauly going from a requested stop only to a mandatory stop, gaining an additional call in each direction between Mondays and Saturdays

Commenting on this, Dave Thompson sad: “I welcome the news that journey times between Glasgow and Inverness are to be up to 17 minutes quicker from December this year. First Group’s decision to invest in the infrastructure of the Highland Main Line improves an important service for our communities and with the new timetable launching in December the shorter journeys will be welcomed as constituents do their Christmas shopping. As a regular user of the train between Inverness and Edinburgh I appreciate the difference any time saving can make to a journey.

I am also pleased to note that Beauly will become a mandatory stop on the new timetable. Continued investment in our rail network is vital as more and more people choose to travel by train. I look forward to further enhancements to the service in due course.”