Garve - Ullapool + K. Lochalsh - Skye extension feasability

[Joseph T]

Removing demand/economic factors, how theoretically feasable would it to finally build the unstarted (if that's the right word) Garve - Ullapool line plus extend the Kyle of Lochalsh line to the Isle of Skye itself reaching Portree and/or Uig?

 

[47421]

regarding Ullapool there is an amusing book on it. IIRC difficult but not totally impossible from an engineering perspective

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quite-Impossible-Proposal-Build-Railway/dp/1912476886

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Wonder how much the cost of construction of the 33 mile Garve -> Ullapool line (estimated at £240,000 in 1890 and £1,000,000 in 1945) would likely now be, in the 21st century?

 

[mike57]

Anything CAN be done, why would you want to?

Although the area has tourist potential its not going to pay for and support a major rail project.

The roads in the area have been improved, Traffic levels are generally low.

The population of Ross and Cramarty is around 49,000 and that incudes the more populated eastern side, there is an awful lot of empty space.

 

[zwk500]

Removing demand/economic factors, how theoretically feasable would it to finally build the unstarted (if that's the right word) Garve - Ullapool line plus extend the Kyle of Lochalsh line to the Isle of Skye itself reaching Portree and/or Uig?

'feasibility' depends on cost, so you can't really remove the economic & financial cases from such a question. And that will never justify this line under current appraisal criteria.

In terms of engineering practicalities, assuming you're largely following the road, you have 3 major challenges: the first is a general one, in that to get a route without excessive curves you'll have to go a bit of a way up the side of the hill (see the West Highland Line) and that will mean bridging every side valley. If you stay lower you'll have to deal with all the watercourses. The other 2 are finding routes alongside the Lochs, given the roads run very close to the shore, and the Corrieshalloch gorge. You're looking at cutting into the hill a significant distance above the roads in each case. The line will also be terrible for buildability, with very remote, inhospitable terrain and the need to bring in a workforce from far away to build the line.
The only saving grace of the line is that it would score highly on reducing economic isolation for rural communities, and it can be single line with maybe 1 passing place, using the existing RETB (modified slightly for standard point machines).

 

[Buzby]

I had wondered about a Skye connection from Kyle - but on passing through on the ‘new’ bridge. Realised this would have been a non-starter due to the elevation required to provide the required clearance Over the water. (Indeed, having driven over on a windy day, it is hair-raising in many ways). Of course, you’d really need to reach Portree for it to be of any benefit - as dumping passengers at Kyleakin wont be popular. Then there’s the high elevations around Sconser, there’s just too much in the way.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

'feasibility' depends on cost, so you can't really remove the economic & financial cases from such a question. And that will never justify this line under current appraisal criteria.

Correct

In terms of engineering practicalities, assuming you're largely following the road, you have 3 major challenges: the first is a general one, in that to get a route without excessive curves you'll have to go a bit of a way up the side of the hill (see the West Highland Line) and that will mean bridging every side valley. If you stay lower you'll have to deal with all the watercourses.

All adding to cost of a nearly impossible business case already

The other 2 are finding routes alongside the Lochs, given the roads run very close to the shore, and the Corrieshalloch gorge. You're looking at cutting into the hill a significant distance above the roads in each case. The line will also be terrible for buildability, with very remote, inhospitable terrain and the need to bring in a workforce from far away to build the line.

Anothe rgreat point +1

The only saving grace of the line is that it would score highly on reducing economic isolation for rural communities, and it can be single line with maybe 1 passing place, using the existing RETB (modified slightly for standard point machines).

Possibly