The Friends of the Far North Line
Cairdean Na Loine Tuath
the campaign group for rail north of
Inverness - lobbying for improved services for the local user, tourist and freight
operator
Our September issue has been published and is now in the hands of our members. We're always looking for new members to give us a stronger voice. Our magazine comes out three times a year and is usually 32 or 36 pages, full of news, opinion, relevant articles and often some Far North Line history. Reading the printed magazine is much better than the web version, which comes out later and joins our archive.
The current issue contains stories about an invitation to visit the Network Rail engineering possession near Brora in June, when the line was closed for three weeks; as well as the tale of a Gauge 1 model of Fearn Station and some serious discussion about the problem of trees just outside the rail perimeter which Network Rail can do nothing about.
Please consider joining us - head to our joining page where you can get on board instantly using PayPal.
Posted 07-09-25
It is reported in The Scotsman that, due to an £8.5m funding shortfall, British Transport Police offices in Dundee and Perth are to be closed.
This is a worrying development at a time when crime on the railways is increasing.
Posted 25-08-25
Now that Autumn is pretty much here, along with darker evenings, it's time to think about settling down in a comfy chair and reading something interesting and enjoyable.
Luckily we now have a fresh supply of David Spaven's definitive history of the Far North Line. We can send you a copy for £9.00 including UK P+P (normal price: £16.99).
This is a substantial book at 314 pages - we regard it as our 'bible' for the Far North Line, and it's full of interesting facts and photos.
You could buy a copy right now, using PayPal, or you can pay by cheque.
Our review of David's book, published in our January 2017 magazine, describes the volume in greater detail.
Posted 09-09-25
FoFNL has had the option to pay for membership using PayPal for some years now.
This means you can join us without having to fill in an application form and post it!
Many of our members now use this system, and it's proved very successful.
Just to remind you, we offer one year's membership for £18.00, continuous membership for £15.00 per annum and Life membership for £120.00. All can be purchased at the click of a button.
If you're not yet a member please head to our joining page now!
The Scottish Natural Heritage website used to carry some excellent audio guides to the Far North Line. They were in MP3 format and were ideal for listening to on the train.
We now have them hosted on our site.
If you are travelling along the Far North Line you might like to enhance your journey by downloading our guide, written by Richard Ardern, one of our committee members and very prolific article writer for Far North Express!
The Guide is in .pdf format so you will be able to follow it on any smartphone or tablet.
If you have any comments or require any information please contact FoFNL by E-mailThe Friends of the Far North Line is the campaign group for rail north of Inverness, lobbying for improved services for local users, tourists and freight.
Our website will give you an insight to FoFNL's successes and concerns. You will find a complete collection of newsletters dating back to 1998 as well as an archive of interesting documents.
This is a map of the Far North Line which is situated in the northernmost part of Scotland. Hovering the pointer over the name of a station will display a local photo.
For a list of our aims please visit our "Aims & Actions" page.
Our 1995 conference for rail interests was the precursor of the Highland Rail Partnership a collaborative body spanning the Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, local Enterprise companies, rail operators, the Friends Groups and others.
Campaigning successes include the Easter Ross commuter train, Beauly and Conon Bridge stations, all-year Sunday trains, initiating the re-introduction of significant freight, the transporting of extremely long lengths of pipe to Wick, and the building of a footbridge alongside the Shin Viaduct. A substantial increase in freight is still needed and we will continue to persuade haulage contractors that there is an alternative to driving long distances over inadequate roads. Perhaps our most surprising, and gratifying, achievement was persuading the powers-that-be that retention toilets could be fitted to the Class 158 trains - having been assured it would be impossible!
In the mid 1980s there was a proposal to include railway in the A9 Dornoch Firth Crossing, thereby shortening the route of the line by around 25 miles. This did not come to fruition and FoFNL takes the view that the money needed for such a project now will not become available.
We continue to seek shortened journey times and hourly services between Inverness and Tain. We aim to work in partnerships, we publish a thrice yearly magazine, Far North Express, we are democratically governed through our AGM and a geographically representative committee.
If you would like to join The Friends of The Far North Line please either visit our joining page, where you can join instantly using PayPal, or download, print out and complete the application form. If you prefer, you can phone our Membership Secretary on +44 (0)1463 791714. Annual membership is only £18.00 (£15.00 if you set up a standing order or PayPal Automatic Payment).
President:
Jamie Stone MP
Joint Vice Presidents:
Rhoda Grant MSP
Maree Todd MSP
Convener:
Ian Budd
ian.budd@fofnl.org.uk
Hon. Secretary:
Vacancy
Hon. Treasurer:
David Start
2 Leigh Road
Hildenborough
Tonbridge
Kent
TN11 9AB
Membership Secretary:
Richard Mansfield
3a Resaurie
Smithton
Inverness
IV2 7NH
memsec@fofnl.org.uk
Magazine Editor:
Ian Budd
editor@fofnl.org.uk
Committee Members:
Iain MacDonald, Alness
Les Turner, Inverness
The photo of Culrain station was taken by Peter Van Den Bossche and the photo of Altnabreac by Dennis Troughton. Both are used under the Creative Commons Licence.