Celebration on a line that could benefit from a series of upgrades

It was not a day for a Victorian cold collation, so the hardy souls that gathered at Rogart station on April 13 to celebrate its 150th anniversary retired to the nearby Pittentrail Inn for hot soup.

Lord Strathnaver unveiled a plaque arranged by Frank Roach, who owns the station building and who is a key player at the Highland and Islands Transport Partnership. HITRANS, as it’s known, has funded many of the improvements evident along the Far North Line from Inverness to Wick and Thurso.

Lord Strathnaver’s preference to be called simply Alistair belies his custodianship of Dunrobin Castle, which sits on the coast a few miles from Rogart. It includes a private station once used by his ancestors, the dukes of Sutherland, but which is now a request stop for public use when the castle is open.

Rogart’s gathering celebrated the opening of 26 miles of line from Bonar Bridge (now called Ardgay) to Golspie on April 13 1868. It included the impressive bridge over the Kyle of Sutherland between Culrain and Invershin stations, and rock cuttings blasted through Lairg. To build beyond Golspie needed financial help from the Duke of Sutherland and, even then, it was 1871 before it reached Helmsdale and 1874 before the Highland Railway started serving Wick and Thurso.

Today’s line serves different markets. There are commuters close to Inverness and a wider mix of locals and visitors further north. Freight features with pipe trains set to restart soon to serve Georgemas Junction, and timber occasionally comes from Kinbrace where it’s loaded onto wagons sitting on the main line. There are proposals to add a siding to make operations easier.

Efforts to attract more freight founder on the fact that it’s pretty simple to call a road haulier, whereas the railway specialises in making matters complicated.

Passengers face long periods on board. It’s 161 miles and over four hours from Inverness to Wick, although the changing scenery is stunning and there’s a refreshments trolley on board. There are several request stops which force trains to slow, just in case prospective passengers are waiting. HITRANS is developing an electronic system that allows those waiting to alert the train driver in smarter time.

Connections can be tight at Inverness. Sunday’s sole southbound train is due in at 1616. It was busy when I took it, and several of us rushed for the connection to the 1623 to Glasgow Queen Street. The Far North Line train rolled in a minute early, but I’m told it’s not always like this. The next train south is 1850, which makes for nervous passengers.

The line could benefit from several proposed upgrades. They include replacing radio signalling with conventional kit between Inverness and Dingwall, and work to allow trains to enter passing loops at higher speeds. Both will help improve journey times and cut delays.