Fort William train plan gathers head of steam
A plan to tackle traffic congestion in Fort William is on the table as part of the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) research and strategy delivery.
A study carried out by Frank Roach, HITRANS partnership manager, has been hailed locally as ‘an exciting and a bold step forward’ and includes maximising the network and enhancing connectivity in and around Fort William.
Currently the ‘Fortansit’ proposal is a ‘what if?’ timetabling work based on an additional Class 156 train being available and two theoretical new stations at Torlundy Nevis Range and Carrs Corner Lochy Bridge.
Speaking to the Lochaber Times this week, Mr Roach said: ‘The proposal would give tourists, employees and school children additional journey opportunities which in turn would decongest the roads allowing HGV movement to industrial sites to flow better.’
The report proposes seven options for new local services to and from Fort William which have explored different ways of providing enhanced local connectivity either towards Mallaig or towards Rannoch. Each of the options incorporate new stations at Carrs Corner and Torlundy Ben Nevis into both the existing ScotRail service and proposed services. Councillor Allan Henderson, who sits on the HITRANS board, said: ‘The Mallaig to Fort William route has four trains per day as well as two Jacobite trips in the summer, while the Glasgow line has only three.
‘The study being conducted is to try and use the space created on the lines by the infrequent but regular scheduled trains; in other words a service within a service. This is not a totally new idea but it is still exciting as we all try to move forward. The possibilities are endless with a little bit of ingenuity.’
Councillor Henderson added the plans should be tempered with a touch of realism.
‘Rail seeds take a long time to germinate and become reality,' he said.
‘But we need to start somewhere and this study is much better than doing nothing.’
The plans are currently being discussed by the Fort William 2020 Group, West Highland Review Group, ScotRail and community councils.
The cost has come in at an estimated £1 million a year not including revenue - and funding sources are being looked into.
‘Funding is always the big stumbling block but if people are serious about cutting down traffic levels in town, this has to be a good option,’ added Mr Roach.