INVERNET - the answer to beating the Kessock queues

The Friends of the Far North Line (FoFNL) are delighted to welcome the introduction on 12 December of the Invernet series of extra train services between Easter Ross and Inverness. There will be five extra trains each way and the morning commuter train will now start from Lairg.

Particularly welcome are the new 17.03 commuter train to Ardgay and the new 20.37 service to Tain that connects out of the GNER service from London and Edinburgh. The Friends will continue to lobby for this train to be extended through to Wick on Fridays to give a better weekend service to Caithness. Previous concerns about overcrowding will be lessened once the Invernet services commence. Hear about this and other topics at the Friends AGM in the Lovat Arms, Beauly at 11.30 am.

The Scottish Executive's willingness to fund these extra services has ensured that First ScotRail now have the new train crews in place to start operations. With a range of very good value fares on offer, the new services will help to reduce some of the congestion which is building up in Inverness both in road space and in parking spaces.

Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace said, "The developments at the south end of the line, offering extra services, are welcome as is anything which helps to make the line more viable. Of course, with the line acting as an important link to the Pentland Firth ferry services to Orkney, I am keen to see these improvements built upon with more services running the full length of the line to Thurso offering better connections with the ferries.

The quality of the service also needs to be improved, with investment in the track and rolling stock needed to give a faster and more comfortable service. Given the importance of the line to tourists, I also want to see it made more cyclist and backpacker friendly, with better provision made for bicycles and bulky luggage.

Recent developments on the line have been positive steps forward, but more is needed if we are to get the level of service Orkney and Caithness deserve."

The Friends are also delighted that Network Rail (NR) have recently completely relaid three miles of track near Altnabreac at a cost of around £3M. We are particularly keen that NR should act on the Office of Rail Regulation's recent injunction to "maintain routes to the published capability level at April 2001". This should mean endeavouring to rescind some of the extra minutes added to train schedules last June. This would be a welcome way to speed up journeys by about 15 minutes between Wick and Inverness.

We would like to see the Scottish Executive sanction a move to make the FNL trains "fit for purpose" by following the example of GNER who have added two inches of extra legroom on trains used on the four and a half hour journey from Edinburgh to London. Our trains were reconfigured to squeeze in the maximum number of passengers for Fife Circle commuter journeys and not surprisingly they are far too cramped for our four hour journeys as well as being short on luggage and bicycle space.

FoFNL has concerns that the new scheme to permit pensioners free travel on buses anywhere in Scotland will adversely affect the use of trains, and the scheme should be extended to trains as soon as possible. The Executive propose to pay the bus companies 73.6% of the full fare for every pensioner carried free. Extending the same terms and privileges to the Far North Line would enhance the earnings of the trains as well as giving pensioners a welcome choice. Our requested fourth train from Wick at 08.30, returning from Inverness at 14.00 would make this choice even better.