Inverness Airport station planning application lands

Network Rail has submitted a planning application to Highland Council for a new railway station at Inverness Airport.

The planning application is the next step in the process that, if approved by the council, will see construction of a new station on the line between Aberdeen and Inverness.

The proposal is for a two-platform station that can accommodate six carriage trains, with step-free access via a footbridge with lifts and parking for 64 cars.

An airport station for Inverness builds upon the many improvements made on the line between the two northern cities and will also include the addition of a new double-track section through the station to increase capacity on the line.

The new station will result in a reduction in road travel to the airport, promoting greener, cleaner travel choices.  As well as providing connectivity to and from the city’s airport, the station will also provide access to the rail network for the growing new town at Tornagrain and the expanding Inverness Airport Business Park.  It will also have the potential to act as a “park and ride” facility for visitors to Inverness, helping reduce traffic on the A96.

The new double-track will enhance the current single-line section between Inverness and Nairn and increase capacity and resilience for both passenger and freight services. It will also enable the new station to be served without impacting on existing journey times.

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity said: “The Scottish Government is committed to improving the economic well-being of communities, encouraging the choice of sustainable transport and providing good quality employment opportunities across Scotland as we plan for our post-COVID recovery.

“That is why we have committed funding for this scheme which has real potential to deliver a number of benefits for the communities it would serve.

“I welcome the submission of this planning application which acts as a key milestone in the delivery process and enable us to progress our aspirations for the new station to the next stage.”

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “We are working hard to improve rail links for communities across Scotland and these proposals will help open up opportunities for new passengers on our network.

“The local community has been campaigning for a new train station at Inverness Airport for many years and we are pleased that we have been able to work with local and central government to develop plans for this new facility.

“We now look forward to hearing people’s thoughts on the proposals and working with them to make this new station a reality.”

You can find out more about the Inverness Airport station proposal by visiting scotlandsrailway.com/projects

Photo credit: Network Rail

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