Network Rail denied access to Altnabreac

[Jan Mayen]

Maintenance staff were stopped from accessing the railway according to this article:

Stand-off at Altnabreac as Network Rail staff blocked from accessing railway

A stand-off close to a remote railway station in Caithness on Wednesday saw Network Rail workers blocked from accessing the railway line at Altnabreac

www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk

 

[pdeaves]

From the article:

A stand-off close to a remote railway station in Caithness on Wednesday saw Network Rail workers blocked from accessing the railway line at Altnabreac.

It is understood that two people were involved in blocking the route to the railway on the tracks which lead from the road-end at Loch More to the station. One vehicle is said to have been used to block an access route, while another person apparently "chained themselves" to a gate.

The queue of traffic backed up totalled at least 27 vehicles, and included Network Rail and police vehicles, according to a witness.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “Following conversations with a local resident and the British Transport Police, our engineers left the site while we decide on the best way to carry out the required work.”

British Transport Police have been contacted for comment.

 

[najaB]

The article doesn't make any comment as to the reason for the action - does anyone know if there's an existing dispute between the landowner/local resident(s) and NR?

 

[The Puddock]

The article doesn't make any comment as to the reason for the action - does anyone know if there's an existing dispute between the landowner/local resident(s) and NR?

Yes, there has been a long-standing and bitter access dispute for quite a few years now.