New ‘active travel’ rail carriages expected to arrive in late summer

Plans to introduce new Active Travel Carriages (ATC) in the summer are going full steam ahead.

West Highland and Loch Lomond ScotRail Tourism Group (STG) met in Crianlarich Village Hall last Thursday to discuss the impending introduction of designated carriages for bikes and large sporting equipment which will be piloted on the West Highland Line, a first for the UK rail industry.

Attendees included Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll and Isles Tourism Co-operative, Oban and Lorn Tourism Alliance, BID4Oban along with representatives from Sustrans and ScotRail.

The gathering was given a presentation on the five Class 153 trains which will carry up to 20 bikes to enhance existing services, providing custom-designed racks to accommodate bikes, sporting equipment and large items of luggage, as well as more seats for customers. The group was also told that it was likely that the carriages would not be in place until late summer due to the specific staff training required but that there would be an opportunity for a high profile Oban launch.

There will also be an opportunity for Oban parties to hold an event in the newly refurbished Queen Street Station, free of charge, to showcase what is available.

BID4Oban is currently working with UK walking and cycling charity Sustrans to produce active cycle maps for the Oban area.

‘There are some very exciting opportunities for businesses and individuals in and around Oban to get involved before and when the active travel carriages come into use,’ said BID chief executive Andrew Spence.

Pre-launch days to promote the carriages will be held in late April/early May.