Aberdeen to Inverness Line

Aberdeen–Inverness line
A ScotRail train at Inverurie station in July 2005
Overview
Type	Rural
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Aberdeenshire Highland Scotland
Termini	Inverness Aberdeen
Stations	10
Operation
Opened	1858
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	Abellio ScotRail
Character	Rural
Rolling stock	Class 158 "Express Sprinter" and class 170
Technical
Line length	108 miles 21 chains (174.2 km)
Number of tracks	Single line with passing loops
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Aberdeen–Inverness line is a railway line in Scotland linking Aberdeen and Inverness.

The line was built in three parts:-

Most of the line is single-track, other than the part of the line between Insch and Kennethmont, which is double-track.

The first two parts of the line merged to form the Highland Railway. The Highland Railway operated the line from Inverness to Keith with the Great North operating the line from there to Aberdeen. The Highland was grouped with other railways into the London Midland and Scottish Railway and the Great North was grouped into the London and North Eastern Railway by the Railways Act 1921, before eventually becoming part of British Railways in 1948.

Many intermediate stations were closed at various dates during the 1950s and 1960s to both passenger and goods traffic. The 1963 Reshaping of British Railways report recommended the closure of Inverurie and Insch stations but these remain open. Dyce station was reopened to serve the adjacent Aberdeen Airport.

A new freight interchange known as Raith's Farm was opened in 2009 at Dyce.

Passenger services are operated by Abellio ScotRail with less regular London trains operated by Virgin Trains East Coast during diversions. There is some limited freight traffic, with Elgin retaining a goods yard, whilst Keith, Huntly and Inverurie retain smaller, less frequently used goods yards. Raith's Farm freight yard at Dyce serves Aberdeen.

The line serves the following stations:

There are currently plans to extend some of the services and increase the frequency of trains between Inverurie and Aberdeen. This will be part of the Aberdeen Crossrail project. Transport Scotland is also funding an infrastructure improvement project on the route between 2015 and 2030. Phase 1 of this scheme (costing £170 million) is due for completion by 2019 and will see the southern end of the line redoubled, the passing loop at Forres extended into a relocated station, new stations built at Dalcross & Kintore, platforms extended at Elgin & Insch and signalling & level crossings on the route upgraded.