Kyle of Lochalsh services

[breadfan]

I had a look at the 0900 Inverness to Kyle service this morning. Nearly every seat was reserved. With 15 minutes before departure it was already very busy. Is this the norm?

Are Scotrail that short of units that only a two car 158 can be provided?

Obviously DRS need to help them out with a loco and stock

 

[alex17595]

They are quite busy sometimes, but this normally stops after dingwall. I was on early morning train the other way and it didn't fill up until dingwall (about 9am ish)

 

[Greenback]

A train at that time is always going to be popular with day trippers. This would be especially so at this time of year when those people who prefer to avoid the school holiday period in England and Wales will be visitng Scotland while ther eis still achance of reasonable weather.

 

[38Cto15E]

Quite often the passengers are on coach holidays, they go by train to the Kyle, their coach goes ahead by road and picks them up later, probably to take them to Skye.
The Dingwall passengers are again coach holidaymakers staying at Strathpeffer.

 

[Roverman]

Greenback is spot on, I'm in Scotland this week and Perth, Edinburgh and Pitlochry have all been heaving with tourists. I went on a distillery tour Monday which I thought would be a quiet day (sometimes get an extra 'snifter' when its quiet) but it was almost full!

 

[NORMAN471]

I expect most of the passengers were over 55 taking advantage of the ScotRail Club 55 Autumn 2013 offer. The trip to KOL is a bargain at £19 return.

ScotRail Club 55 - £19 return [Book and travel between 01/09 and 30/11];
add to this the TPE Club 55 - cheap flat fare return [Travel between 15/09 and 16/11] and next week could see fully booked trains for a month or more.

 

[Greenback]

Quite often the passengers are on coach holidays, they go by train to the Kyle, their coach goes ahead by road and picks them up later, probably to take them to Skye.
The Dingwall passengers are again coach holidaymakers staying at Strathpeffer.

True. My locla paper often has adverts for 'The Highlands by Train' or other such short breaks.

I expect most of the passengers were over 55 taking advantage of the ScotRail Club 55 Autumn 2013 offer. The trip to KOL is a bargain at £19 return.

ScotRail Club 55 - £19 return [Book and travel between 01/09 and 30/11];
add to this the TPE Club 55 - cheap flat fare return [Travel between 15/09 and 16/11] and next week could see fully booked trains for a month or more.

Yes, such promotional offers will also make a contribution to full trains.

I think it is worth saying that the morning trains out of Inverness have been pretty busy whenever I've used them, whethe rit be August, March or October.