Inverness to Thurso - how busy?

[KirstyD]

i am doing a trip of the far North of Scotland and have just booked tickets for myself and parents in mid November...unfortunately I’ve just realised I mistakenly booked seats facing backwards! Do the trains from Inverness to Thurso and back tend to get very busy or might there be a possibility to move seats?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Generally, no, they aren't busy at all, they're an utter financial basket case

 

[cf111]

It won't be busy that time of year.

I was on the 1041 Inverness-Wick last Friday and people had to stand until Dingwall, so the services can be busy on occasion especially during the school holidays and at the south end of the line. The unreserved coach on all Far North Line trains is coach A of the two coach unit.

 

[greatkingrat]

The good news is that whatever seats you have been allocated, you will be facing forwards for at least some of the journey!

 

[Esker-pades]

ScotRail tend to shove all the reservations in one corner of a carriage. I rarely use my reserved seat on that line.
Mid-November is hardly high season, so you should be able to find a nice table to yourself.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

The train may be fully seated until around Ardgay or so. After that it should die down stop by stop, until you reach Thurso, whereupon you may be one of only about three or four passengers on the train.

 

[KirstyD]

Thank you all for your replies, that's really helpful and good to know that there should be a reasonable amount of flexibility in moving seats, particularly as we get further North. I was so fixated on ensuring I booked the tickets for the right date and time that I totally missed the part where I should have chosen forward facing window seats! Very excited about the trip as will be doing the Inverness-Thurso route as a day trip and then the Kyle of Lochalsh route the following day. Just hope it all runs to plan!

 

[InOban]

Unless you get bustituted between strathcarron and Kyle - see thread in the infrastructure section.

 

[mikey9]

If you get the 17:12 Northbound from Inverness M-F then this is the only Far North train usually full to standing.

 

[gazthomas]

If you get the 17:12 Northbound from Inverness M-F then this is the only Far North train usually full to standing.

Not all the way though!

 

[mikey9]

Full only to Muir of Ord!