Revamp for scenic lines to bring in rail tourists

NEW SCOTRAIL operator Abellio is rebranding the most picturesque train routes north of the Border as ‘Great Scenic Railway Journeys of Scotland’.

Six lines across the country will be promoted in a new tourism campaign to be l aunched in May.

That will be followed by trains being upgraded over the next three years to make them more attractive to tourists. This was one of the requisites set down by ministers in the contract.

The West Highland line from Glasgow to Oban and Mallaig, which featured in the Harry Potter films, will be among those to be highlighted. The Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh route and the Inverness to Wick and Thurso – the Far north line – will also be included.

The others to be marketed are Glasgow- Stranraer, GlasgowDumfries- Carlisle, and t he Borders Railway, which is due to open in September.

Carriages will be upgraded to become ‘scenic trains’, with information on tabletops, local food on catering trolleys, seats better aligned with windows, and more bike and luggage space.

A spokesman for Abellio, which is based in The netherlands, said: ‘The journey will be an experience in its own right.’