Trip to Kyle of Lochalsh

[davsarg]

Hi I'm planning a trip from Wrexham to Kyle of Lochalsh towards the end of April. The outward trip isn't a problem but am slightly concerned about the change at Inverness on the way back. Basically the train from KoL arrives in Inverness at 14:42 with the connecting train leaving for Edinburgh at 14:47. I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are about this connection, especially if you've actually made this journey and connection before. Is the train to Edinburgh likely to wait for the train from KoL if it's late? For that matter do trains from KoL generally arrive on time at Inverness or are they regularly late.

I'm sure it'll all work out just fine. It's just that it's an awful long way from home to get stranded!

Thanks very much

 

[ainsworth74]

It meets the minimum connection time at Inverness of five minutes so is a valid connection therefore if your train from Kyle is running late and misses the train on to Edinburgh Scotrail have to either get you home somehow or put you up for the night. I would suggest if your Kyle train is running late that you contact the guard of that service to make them aware of the situation. I have heard of trains being held at Inverness for late running services off the Far North and Kyle lines.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I believe the reason for the minor rewriting of the timetable back in December was to make it more accurately reflect the times in reality, so it should be a relatively safe bet. As ainsworth74 says it is a valid connection so you will be fine anyway, and the guards from my experience are a really personable bunch so I am sure that they would do all they can to help if need be.

Enjoy the trip by the way, it's the finest line the UK has to offer.

 

[davsarg]

I believe the reason for the minor rewriting of the timetable back in December was to make it more accurately reflect the times in reality, so it should be a relatively safe bet.

Thanks for that. Do you have any idea what time that train got into Inverness before the re-write?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Thanks for that. Do you have any idea what time that train got into Inverness before the re-write?

The closest I can find is the summer 2013 timetable which was Kyle d) 1205 Inverness a) 1440.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Inverness, although not without there faults generally look after pax with connections well. Working on the basis your next move is the 18:56x Haymarket towards Crewe, I'd say at a guess they could get you home still that day even if the HML Working to Edinburgh wasnt held. Failing that they would put you up for the night and many nearby hotels etc are used to this as given the rural nature of the routes its not unheard of.

 

[alex17595]

I had a highland rover in January, My train from Aviemore was delayed by about 15 mins and they couldn't hold the departure to Kyle. Instead they put us in 2 taxis and sent us off to Kyle arriving 45 mins before the train! (running up a fare of £160 each!)
Shame really, I was looking forward to doing the Kyle line in the snow.

 

[30907]

Made the connection comfortably last year. Only problem being too late for a decent seat from IS.

 

[LeylandLen]

Its many years since I visited Inverness. RTT shows arrival from Kyle on platform 6 , with the Glasgow departure at 1447 platform 3. So its not a simple cross platform transfer from the Kyle train to the Glasgow train.? A minimum connection time of 5 mins would be ok for some, but surely not if you are an elder person with luggage ?

 

[Hadders]

5 minutes is sufficient, even from platform 6 to 3. If you are concerned then alight from the front of the Kyle train, it's then about 30 yards to the rear of the Edinburgh one.