Far North Line - three week closure

[Sealink]

Network Rail will be closing the Far North Line for three weeks in June 2026. One of the nicest times of year to travel that far north.

Multi-million pound works to close Far North Line for weeks

Rail passengers on the Far North Line face three weeks of disruption once again this summer, following a similar three-week closure in 2025.

www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk

Rail passengers on the Far North Line face weeks of disruption this summer amid plans for major engineering works.

ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland have confirmed that there will be no trains between Dingwall and Wick from late on Sunday, June 7 until early on Monday, June 29.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Presumably it's kind of stuck between avoiding the school holidays and the weather being likely decent enough up there to do the actual work? At least a replacement coach isn't on hugely different timings.

 

[Sealink]

Presumably it's kind of stuck between avoiding the school holidays and the weather being likely decent enough up there to do the actual work? At least a replacement coach isn't on hugely different timings.

The rail replacement coach is usually quicker. Although who'd do it when you have Citylink and Ember coaches at £2 a pop. Hopefully the budget for that won't run out!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Presumably it's kind of stuck between avoiding the school holidays and the weather being likely decent enough up there to do the actual work? At least a replacement coach isn't on hugely different timings.

That was the same reasoning used for TP Upgrade blockades. School/ university holidays and better weather even though it is tourism season.

 

[fwsmVor]

I imagine a lot of people are going to realise Ember is actually OK. This might be the tipping point of a precipitous decline.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I imagine a lot of people are going to realise Ember is actually OK. This might be the tipping point of a precipitous decline.

I'd have thought the £2 cap is likely to do the railway more harm than any engineering work does to be honest.

 

[The exile]

I'd have thought the £2 cap is likely to do the railway more harm than any engineering work does to be honest.

On the whole, regulars who might use the coach probably are already doing so. Most visitors are one-offs anyway - the biggest damage may well be their reviews /social media recommendations and how they are received by next year’s visitors.

 

[HighlandStorm]

Another reason for the timing is that it barely gets dark!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Another reason for the timing is that it barely gets dark!

Of course. I forgot about that. 1 hour extra before sunset over London.

 

[John R]

Wonder will it impact any travellers from Altnabreac who might need to make their way to important appointments in Wick, Inverness or even Edinburgh?

 

[Sealink]

Wonder will it impact any travellers from Altnabreac who might need to make their way to important appointments in Wick, Inverness or even Edinburgh?

A very good point. Must sign up to the Groat newspaper...

 

[Altnashin]

I would imagine this is for more track renewal, possibly continuous welded rail, same as around Fearn last year.

In my opinion, The Far North Line is in dire need of many more miles of continuous welded rail, but that is for another thread.

 

[brad465]

Another challenge, which I'm sure has been brought up before, is being a single-track route, replacing track is much harder than a double-track line, as on the latter you can have engineering trains on the other running line with the replacement track to hand.

 

[Sealink]

Just noticed a little thing that rail replacement buses will not serve Altnabreac (fair enough and also Uh-ohhhh!), Scotscalder (fair enough) or Dunrobin Castle.
The last one is curious, as the entrance to the station has a layby, so access would seem to be fine.

 

[davetheguard]

Just noticed a little thing that rail replacement buses will not serve Altnabreac (fair enough and also Uh-ohhhh!), Scotscalder (fair enough) or Dunrobin Castle.
The last one is curious, as the entrance to the station has a layby, so access would seem to be fine.


View attachment 204953

And it's a bus stop on the X99 Inverness - Thurso Stagecoach route.

I once got off the bus there to visit the castle before returning back to Inverness by train.

 

[Ploughman]

Another challenge, which I'm sure has been brought up before, is being a single-track route, replacing track is much harder than a double-track line, as on the latter you can have engineering trains on the other running line with the replacement track to hand.

Using specialist equipment it is possible to renew a single track very easily.
Balfours track relaying train is one example.
Google will find it.

 

[ajwffc]

Using specialist equipment it is possible to renew a single track very easily.
Balfours track relaying train is one example.
Google will find it.

The snark. But using it causes other issues as it limits the number of staff available.

 

[ajwffc]

update from Network Rail with a clip of the ‘New Track Construction’ machine in operation

Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) on X

Our project to renew 4km of track on the Far North Line is now well underway. We use this fascinating piece of kit, @balfourbeatty's ‘New Track Construction’ machine to do it – laying sleepers, installing rail and securing it all at once! @transcotland @ScotRail

x.com

 

[yorksrob]

I'd have thought the £2 cap is likely to do the railway more harm than any engineering work does to be honest.

It's the same South of the border. Too much attention given to bus fares whilst train fares are allowed to deteriorate.