Harry Potter viaduct set for £3.4m repair

Repairs costing £3.4m to the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, known globally for featuring in the Harry Potter films, will not disrupt rail services and will not change its distinctive appearance, Network Rail has said.

Engineers will assess the strength of the viaduct, which operates between Fort William and Mallaig in the Highlands, while carrying out work to protect it from water erosion, and will later complete concrete repairs and make improvements beneath the track.

Work on the viaduct will take just under a year to complete. A start date for the work has yet to be announced.

Network rail said there would be no disruption to trains that operate on the line while maintenance is carried out, and said the structure’s appearance would remain the same.

Laura Craig, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “The viaduct is an iconic landmark which attracts visitors from across the world, so we’ve worked hard to develop a solutionwhich will help preserve the structure, respect its historic significance while minimising the visual impact of our work.”

Mark Ilderton, service delivery director for Scotrail, added: “Scotrail journeys on the West Highland line, taking in the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, are incredibly popular and it is fantastic to see this work being carried out by our colleagues at Network Rail Scotland. There will be no disruption to any of our services during the work, and we look forward to giving Work on the viaduct will take just under a year to complete. A start date for the work has yet to be announced as many people as possible the chance to experience the journey in the coming weeks and months”.

Network Rail is working with Highland Council, the landowners and stakeholders to make sure work is carried out as sensitively as possible. This includes using carefully selected stone for the repairs that match the existing masonry.

Councillor ken go w ans, chairman of The Highland Council’ s economy and infrastructure committee, said :“The scenic rail journey has become a hugely popular route between Fort William and Mallaig. It is very popular with Harry Potter fans and attracts visitors from across the world. In addition, it also provides a valued service to those living and working in the communities it passes through, so it is essential that repair works and works to safeguard the route’s future is carried out.” Glenfinnan, famous for its links to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, has long been popular with sightseers. but numbers have risen ten fold since the harry potter films first came out in the early 2000s and have now reached around half a million each year.

A three-year travel management plan was put forward, with a host of measures aimed at alleviating the pressure. they include number-plate to identify vehicles, extra parking for coaches, a link up between the two existing car park operators, introduction of double-yellow-lines in hot-spots, and a single co-ordinated online public information service with live updates on parking availability and road congestion.

The nearby glen finn an visitor Centre saw more than 398,000 people stopping in 2022.

It is very popular with Harry Potter fans… and it also provides a valued service to those communities it passes through