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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
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› AGM & Committee Minutes
Committee, 10-05-19, Inverness Committee, 24-10-15, Alness Committee, 12-04-15, Alness Committee, 08-01-15, Inverness Committee, 27-10-14, Alness Committee, 21-07-14, Inverness AGM, 31-05-14, Conon Bridge Committee, 07-12-13, Edinburgh Committee, 07-09-13, Inverness AGM, 03-06-13, Thurso Committee, 16-03-13, Edinburgh Committee, 08-12-12, Inverness Committee, 08-09-12, Edinburgh AGM, 11-06-12, Dingwall Committee, 18-02-12, Inverness Committee, 21-01-12, Edinburgh Committee, 22-10-11, Edinburgh AGM, 18-06-11, Wick Committee, 26-03-11, Edinburgh Committee, 30-10-10, Inverness Committee, 24-07-10, Edinburgh AGM, 31-05-10, Inverness Committee, 31-05-10 Committee, 06-02-10 Committee, 31-10-09 AGM, 27-07-09, Helmsdale Committee, 18-04-09, Inverness Committee, 13-12-08, Tain Committee, 15-08-08, Inverness Committee, 29-03-08, Kirkcaldy Committee, 08-12-07, Tain, Committee, 25-08-07, Helmsdale
› Links
Scottish Rail
› › Local Services
Accommodation Shops & Services
› › 1998
› › › February
A View From The Signalbox Chairman's Welcome Railway Centenaries Railway Cuttings Get Steaming Annual General Meeting 1997 New Service from Dingwall Two Letters
› › › June
A View From The Signalbox Steam Through The Highlands Highland Festival Summer Timetable Review Steam Train To Kyle T(r)ain Locomotives Facing Points Cycling Matters Books For Sale Committee Matters Railway Cuttings
› › › October
A Day Of Contrasts - Editorial Steam Today - Traffic Tomorrow Steam Timetable - 10th October 1998 Annual General Meeting 1998 Committee Matters Missed Opportunity & Cycling Matters Sunday Service - Please
Did You Ever Want To Become An Engine Driver?
 Books For Sale Facing Points Railway Cuttings
Scottish Association for Public Transport
 Railtrack Consultation Passenger Services For Easter Ross
› › 1999
› › › January
125th Year Membership Renewal Annual General Meeting 1998 Facing Points Freight - Lovat Pride Thomas the Rhymer Steam In The North 1998 Committee Matters Shin Viaduct Footbridge Railway Cuttings South & East Sutherland Local Plan The Inverness Question Letters
› › › June
View From The Signalbox Comment
Obituary for Harry Miller, founder chairman of FoFNL
 Service Provision Letter to The Editor Facing Points
Submissions to Highland Rail Developments
 Railway Cuttings Bustitution 125th Anniversary Events Dornoch - An Alternative Perspective
Transport Policy for a Sustainable Scotland
› › › October
View From The Signalbox Annual General Meeting 1999 North Railway Line - 125 Years (i) 125th - the day Railway Cuttings - 25 years ago Facing Points Letter to The Editor Has the Beauly project hit the buffers? ScotRail price cuts
Watch this space! Safeway Freight to Caithness
 About 80 miles to the Insch Fund Raising
› › 2000
› › › February
Into The Millenium More On The 158s
125 Years On The North Railway Line (Part 2)
 1999 Annual General Meeting Committee Matters Highland Railway Heritage Railtours View From The Signalbox Dates For Your Diary From Your Secretary's Desk Facing Points Trailing Points Diamond Crossings Railway Cuttings Overnight Train Services Campaign for Borders Rail Learning By Rail
› › › June
Front Page View From The Signalbox Summer Service Facing Points Scottish Highlands Rail Festival 2000
125 Years on the North Railway Line (Part 3)
Rail Users Consultative Committee For Scotland
Transport Specialist Joins The Committee
 Volunteers Required Photographic Competition Letters to The Editor Scotscalder Station
› › › September
Front Page Three Steps Forward - One Step Back Annual General Meeting 1999 ScotRail Hits the Buffers 'Times - They Are A-Changing' The New Generation - Turbostar James Kennedy HR Models Facing Points Fort Augustus Line Photographic Competition ScotRail Takes to The Road Overnight Train Services Letter to The Editor Tain Commuter Train Publicity
Letter to The Editor - Modern Railways Magazine
› › 2001
› › › January
Front Page Notes From the Chairman AGM 2000 View From The Signalbox Tain Commuter Passenger Survey Facing Points Re-opening of Beauly Station TPO Van at Dingwall
Strategic Priorities - Scotland's Railway
 In The Aftermath of Hatfield Photographic Competition Abandoned New Committee Appointees
› › › June
Front Page Crisis Point For The Friends?
Response To Scottish Executive Consultation Paper
 Alness Station Clean Up Railway Cuttings ScotRail Press Releases Highland Railway Society View From The Signalbox Facing Points Centenary Of The Mallaig Line Far North Video 125 Offer Shunting Competition
And We Thought We Were The Best Of Friends With ScotRail!
› › › October
Front Page Growing Far North Traffic Annual General Meeting 2001
EWS - Rail Freight on The Far North Line
 EWS and ScotRail Press Releases Facing Points Coming Up With The Goods Subscription Rates The Dornoch Bridge Revisited Promoting The Far North Line Letters To The Editor Passenger Watchdog Meets Freight On The Far North Line
› › 2002
› › › February
Front Page Freight and Passenger Developments Annual General Meeting Report Facing Points Membership Renewal Committee Meeting Report Sheep and Trees Carved Stone Head Getting Familiar With The Far North Reminiscences of Muir Of Ord Railway Cuttings
Clachnaharry Road Bridge Replacement
 Free Ticket Offer Winter Sunday Service to Wick Highland Railway Heritage Far North Freight Summary Strategic Rail Authority Letter from David St. John Thomas
› › › May
Front Page Beauly Station Re-opening Beauly Timetables - Present and Past More About Beauly Letting the Train Take the Daily Strain Delivering the Goods Correction - Lorry Miles Dornoch Unlooped Dounreay Waste Beauly Station (Ross-shire Journal) Facing Points Far North Future Alness Station Memories Announcements RSPB Reserve at Forsinard Letters to The Editor
› › › October
Front Page Developing & Holding Traffic AGM 16th November 2002 Committee Matters Taking The Iron Road Northern Timber By Rail Five-Year Rail Service Blueprint Facing Points Muir Of Ord Station Update
Death In The Far North - Dornoch Closure 1960
 Royal Train Jubilee Visit To Train Or Not To Train? Adding To A96 Congestion "Broken Rails" Sleepers - Now And Then Kinbrace Open Day Highland Rail Partnership Forsinard - A Day Out Striking Gold In Helmsdale
› › 2003
› › › January
Front Page
2002 - A Good Year for The Far North Line
 AGM - 16th November 2002 Railway Journal Back Numbers Committee Reports New Appointment for Frank Roach Comfort Complaints Carved Stone Head Our Bridges In The North Tain Initiative Group Access Project Facing Points Iron Road To Orkney And Skye Membership Reminder
MSP Calls For Better Train Service North
 Muir Of Ord Station Update
Calls For More Goods To Travel By Train
 Coincidences!
› › › April
Front Page Frank Spaven - An Appreciation
Questions for Scottish Election Candidates
 Train Service Aims For 2004
Jellicoe Express Commemorative Plaque
 Highland Deephaven Planning Saga Good News On Rail Freight Links Inverness Rail Heritage Facing Points Trondheim! - No Comparison New Rôle For Old Railway Building Highland Railway Heritage Membership Committee Meetings - February 2003 MacPuff Car Badge
› › › October
Front Page Northern Rail Future AGM 15th November 2003 Traffic Surveys Facing Points Railways Bleeding To Death Commuter Concerns Destination Invershin ScotRail Press Release Dornoch Firth Crossing - Again Obituary for Archie Roberts News - 1878 Far North In Print Milburn Freight Yard Survey Committee Meeting Reports
› › 2004
› › › January
Front Page Headcode AGM 2003 Rail Passengers Committee Scotland Membership Matters!
Small Town Networks Conference, Sweden
 SRA Hearing View From The Signalbox Freight Flow Estimate 2003
Railfreight On The North Line - A Rising Star?
 Car Park Clue To City's Rail Heritage Iron Roads To The Far North & Kyle Committee Meetings
› › › May
Front Page Headcode
The Case for Rail in the Highlands & Islands
Railfreight on the North Line - A Rising Star? Part 2
 Summer Excursion A Cycling Family's View of the Line
Working Together to Build a Better Railway
 Editor's Apology
The Highland Scots Become Interested in Railways
 Seen By Many, Visited By Few Membership Matters Facing Points Letters to The Editor Community Rail Development Press Report
› › › September
Front Page Headcode AGM Policy Aims for Future Rail Services Gold Panning... Facing Points Inverness-Aberdeen Line The First Group ScotRail Franchise Train Times For Lairg Dornoch Bullet Train? Scottish Rail History Book Review Committee Meetings
› › 2005
› › › January
Front Page Headcode AGM 2004 Rail Passengers Committee The Future of the Regional Train The Law of Unintended Consequences Class 158 DMUs A Rural Freight Revival? Facing Points
Widening Clearances for Freight Containers
 Winter Evening Meeting Community Rail Development Strategy Caithness & Orkney Deserve Better Invernet Flying Start Letter to Editor Membership Matters Good News on Apex Fares Committee Meeting Far North Guide Book
› › › June
Front Page Headcode A Better Railway For The North Fearn Station Rail Passengers' Committee, Scotland Priceless Peatlands A Most Convivial Evening Freight News Facing Points Highland railway: People & Places Our Secondhand Shoestring Railway The Slow Train Summer Outing to Dunrobin
Kennedy Highland Railway Models Trust & The Nairn Museum
› › › September
Front Page View From The Signalbox
Association of Community Rail Partnerships
Opportunities From The New Timetable
 Highland Rail Partnership Connections With Orkney Ferries Tain Station Back On Track Dunrobin Locomotive Dornoch Rail Link Facing Points Freight Facilities Grants Membership Statistics
› › 2006
› › › January
Front Page Headcode View From The Signalbox Well Done Frank A User's View of Invernet New Timetable, December 2005 Morning Session of 2005 AGM Pen Pictures A 'Knight' Dons Its Armour Submissions Announcements Facing Points
› › › May
Front Page Headcode AGM 2006 Volunteers Required
Scottish Executive Consultation on Rail Priorities
 Dornoch Rail Link Some Thoughts from the Lairg Loop
Keiss Primary School Pupils Head For Pitlochry
 Rolling Stock Improvements Possible Steam Train Service June 2006 Timetable Making Tracks For Lonely Altnabreac Cab Ride Committee Meeting 25th Feb Savings on Group Travel
› › › September
Front Page Headcode AGM 2006 Timetable Future Prospects for Rail in The North Really Useful Rolling Stock
SQUIRE - Service Quality Incentive Regime
 Letter to The Editor Book Review Cab Ride - Part 2 Alness Station Steams Ahead
Meeting the Community Councils - Creich
 Summer Excursion Committee Meeting 27 May
› › 2007
› › › January
Front Page Headcode Controlled Emission Toilets Response to Network Rail Consultation Lentran Loop Regional Transport Strategy The RETB Story Scotland's Expanding Railways AGM 2006 Speakers Membership Matters Letter to The Editor Letter to The Editor 2 Committee Meeting 26 August Books
› › › March
Front Page Headcode The Real Rail Way Ahead: 2007-2035 Housekeeping Notes
› › › June
Front Page Headcode Notice of AGM 2007 FoFNL Convener Appointed to RIAC ScotRail Customer Forum Donation Freight RUS Consultation Response Kessock Bridge Logjam Facing Points Centralized Traffic Control Signalling Letters to The Editor View From The Signalbox OV-fiets - Dutch Train Bike Hire Georgemas Chord Technicalities Committee Meeting Minutes 9-12-06 Committee Meeting Minutes 22-03-07
› › › September
Front Page Headcode
The Process for Change on the Modern Railway
Government - High Level Output Specification
 More Caption Suggestions The Lentran Loop Class 158 Refurbishment AGM 2007 Speakers Convener's AGM Report - 2007 December 2008 Timetable Bothered by TLAs? AGM 2008 and Winter Evening Social Committee Meeting Minutes 26-05-07
› › 2008
› › › January
Front Page Headcode
Review of Highlands Rail Developments
 Timetable: Technical Overview Track Patrolling
Mega Trucks Coming to a Road Near You Soon?
 Tesco Considering Rail Transport More Abbreviations and Acronyms Slow, Snow, Block, Block, Snow New High Speed Train for ECML Freight News "Dunrobin" Emigrates Four Minutes More
Highland Railcards Recognised by TVMs
 Sponsored Walk May 9, 2008 AGM Activities AGM 2008 Committee Meeting Minutes 25-08-07
› › › May
Front Page Headcode Invernet Triumph(s)
National Planning Framework For Scotland 2
FoFNL Committee Visit To Kirkcaldy And Dunfermline
 Station Survey Slow, Snow, Block, Block, Go! Winter Talk
Transport Connections In The Highlands 2008 (Part 1)
 Facing Points Trains Which Are Never Late Highland Railway Loops Committee Minutes 8-12-07 Tain
› › › September
Front Page Headcode Convener's AGM Report AGM 2008 Speakers
Summary of Station Visits
April-May 2008
What Needs To Be Done - Station Visits
Transport Connections in the Highlands 2008 (Part 2)
 Better Connections Another Acronym December 2008 Timetable Review Line For All Seasons (Part 1) Winter Talk
Excerpts From
"The Railway Magazine"
Committee Minutes 29-03-08 Kirkcaldy
 Your New Treasurer
› › 2009
› › › January
Front Page Advance Notice 2009 AGM Headcode Information Request
Towards a Great North of Scotland Railway
 2008 Survey of FNL Delays First ScotRail Sponsors Orchestra Line For All Seasons (Part 2)
Hare or Tortoise?
Strategic Transport Projects Review
 Winter Talk - Calum Macleod
Most Innovative Approach to
Cycle-Rail Integration
Impressive Growth In Rail Travel Numbers
Highland Council TECS Committee 20th November
 Invergordon Scoops Station Award Reviews The "Jellicoes" by Roger E.G.Read Extract From SLS Journal
› › › May
Front Page Advance Notice 2009 AGM Headcode Diesel the Cat
FoFNL Newsletter
Reaches Heart of Govt.
 May 2009 Timetable Review
Rail Users Group
Issues for HITRANS Meeting
 Kildary Bridge Bash
Survey of 09
FNL Delays (Part 1)
 Sutherland Local Plan The Passing of Two Senior Railwaymen Testing the Track to Wick Thumbs Up for Invernet
The "Jellicoes"
by Roger E.G.Read (Part 2)
National Archive of Railway Oral History
 Romantic Snow Blocks
› › › September
Front Page View From the Signalbox Headcode Strengthening The Far North Line Letter to Transport Scotland The Helmsdale Station Project Punctuality Best in a Decade The Level Crossing Hazard (Part 1) British Transport Police Pedal For Less at Inverness Parry People Mover Class 139 Railway Self-Sufficiency
New Freight Service on the
Highland Main Line
Jubilee Refreshment Rooms
Sowerby Bridge Station
 AGM Speakers
The Line In Photographs:
Book Review
 Extract From Railway Magazine
› › 2010
› › › January
Front Page View From The Signalbox Headcode Highland Wide Local Development Plan
Railfreight Scotland Policy Consultation
 The Level Crossing Hazard (Part 2)
Forsinard
Lonely Yet Fascinating Outpost
 Memo to FoFNL Committee
Scotland RUS Generation 2
Scoping Exercise
 Accolade for ScotRail and the RSNO Two Bridges to Farr (and Evanton etc)
Update on Progress at Helmsdale Station
 The Far North Line During WW2 Obviously a Peak Christmas Saturday! Extract from The Railway Magazine
› › › May
Front Page Headcode In The Beginning A Day In The Life... British Transport Police Report A Future For The Highland Lines A Siding We Built In A Week A More Prestigious Train Sample Covers Necessity Mothers RETB Reinvention The "Twa Brigs" And Freight Station Usage
Extract From "The Railway Magazine" 1933
 Letter To The Editor
› › › September
Front Page Headcode Level Crossings - Part III Book Review Contribution to Level Crossing Debate Campaigning for Conon Station Press Coverage for Conon Station AGM 2010 Speakers Question to Members The "Twa Brigs" and Freight - Part II Far North Line Station Anagrams 2010 AGM Convener's Report BTP Report Letter To The Editor Ross-shire Transport Forum Vacancy for Newsletter Editor
› › 2011
› › › January
Front Page 2011 AGM Notice Headcode Contribution to Level Crossing Debate
RAIB Report on Halkirk Level Crossing Collision
RAIB Bulletin About Dingwall Derailment
Submission to Network Rail on Scotland RUS (Generation Two)
 Timetable Proposals Inverness - Dingwall Line Capacity Dunrobin - Locomotive and Castle
Inverness Depot
Scotrail Team of the Year Award
Setting the Points in the Right Direction
Highland Council's Approach to Level Crossings
 From the Newspaper Archives Book Reviews Railtour to Wick
› › › May
Front Page Letter to Editor AGM Notice John Duncan Headcode Response to RUS2 Mallard Comes To The Rescue Rail Station Now On Track To Re-Open Scottish Parliamentary Elections Let's Get on With the Work!
Far North Line Patronage Continues to Grow
How Far Away is Aberdeen or Even Dalcross?
 Touring On and Around the FNL Acronyms The Journey to Nowhere Bradshaw - Brad Sure? Pen Picture of Potential Editor In Days of Yore
› › › September
Front Page Editorial Headcode Library Legalities go to Appeal In for a Shilling, In for a Pound? FoFNL AGM, 18 June 2011, Report Gladstonian Daftness? Convener's Report Kessock Chaos Partially Averted FNL Train Loadings
Level Crossings - Road-Rail vs Road-Road
 Level Crossings - Part IV The RUS Rolls On Through to Orkney by Taxi Taking a Cab 'Tain't arf confusing at Inverness...' Farthest South-East to Far North-East East Coast Meals Not So Hot Bookworm's Burrow Connections Financing and Franchising Potential Highland Freight Improving Far North Services
New Stock for Invernet and the Far North Lines?
› › 2012
› › › January
Front Page Letter to the Secretary Headcode Keith Tyler (1930-2011) Yet more Forward Planning Reports Future Plans are No Plans
Piping more freight on to the Far North Line?
 Touring around the Far North Line Whither the Far North Line? (Re-)Turning the Tables A Load of Hot Cold Air A Highland Winter Refreshing News Recollected in Tranquillity Branch Lines Too Close? We Await the Time
› › › May
Front Page Headcode Rail 2014 Consultation Level Crossings - Part 5 Future Rolling Stock Policy in Scotland Caledonian Sleepers "Black Fives" in the Highlands Nucleating Georgemas The new Highland Main Line Timetable Connections from the Far North Line
What Railway Lines? There's Snow Lines There!
 Station Usage Statistics Bad News for Culrain
Conon Bridge Station Could be Opened Soon
Press Release - Inverness Caledonian Sleepers
 Wish You Were Here - Postcards Recent HITRANS Reports Snippet of History Your Trespasses Will Not be Forgiven Book Review - Trainspots Motorail Highland Chieftain Northbound Far North Freightliner Keith Tyler's Farewell
› › › September
Front Page A Quotation Whose Time is Awaited Headcode 2012 FoFNL AGM, Convener's Report
FoFNL Conference, Dingwall, 11 June 2012
 2013 AGM and Conference C'mon Conon!
Rail Matters to Muir! "The Great Train Day"
 Highland Main Line Letter to The Editor
A 1932 Perspective of The Far North Line
 Far North - Forty Years On Can Level Crossings Ever Be Safe? Scottish Railway Coats-of-Arms
Far North Line Past, Present and Future
On The Road To Beauly and Back Via Beaulieu Road
 History is a String of Broken Hopes Yestermonths in Parliament
› › 2013
› › › January
Front Page Headcode December 2012, Timetable Revision Station News Franchise News Rail Fares 2013 AGM and Conference Far North Line Upgrades Committee Meetings
Far North Line: Past, Present and Future
Room For Growth - A Reflection Four Years On
 Contributions Freight on The Far North Line
Staff at Conon Station
in Highland Railway Days
 Level Crossings - Part 6 Book and DVD Reviews Yestermonths in Parliament
› › › April
Front Page Headcode AGM and Conference
Conon Bridge: The Day Dawns at Last!
 Fares News Station Usage Figures Contributions FNL Train Service Enhancements Conon to Cromarty Corridor Do They Mean Us? News From the Central Belt High Speed Rail: Anything For Us?
Frank Spaven and the Development of Railways in Scotland
 Well I'll Be Blowed! Problems on The Kyle Line
Far North Line: Past, Present and Future
 Letter to The Editor Book Review Yestermonths in Parliament
› › › September
Front Page Headcode 2014 AGM and Conference
Report of FoFNL Conference: Monday 3rd June 2013
 Franchise News The Swing of the Pendulum FNL Train Service Enhancements Fares News News From the Central Belt Progress (Of Sorts) on The HML New Life for Helmsdale Station House May We Have Our Tracks Back Please? Level Crossings - Part 7 Caption (Non-) Competition
Making Rail Freight Work for the Highlands
Overnight Train, Two Capitals and a Castle...
 Letters to The Editor Getting to GRIPs Yestermonths in Parliament Contributions
› › 2014
› › › January
Front Page Headcode AGM & Conference
Inner Moray Firth Proposed Development Plan
Far North Line Train Service Enhancements
How Inverness Could be Closer to the Central Belt
 RETB Renewal Food For Thought? Helmsdale Comes Back to Life - Part 1 Franchise News
Network Rail's Enhancements Delivery Plan
 Intercity Express Project News From the Central Belt High Speed 2 and Scotland HML Train Running
Why Long Single-line Railways to Inverness?
 Level Crossings Part 8: An Interlude
Inverness Set for Showdown - 50 Years On
 Correction Yestermonths in Parliament Contributions
› › › April
Front Page Headcode Changes at Network Rail Station Usage Figures ORR Final Determination
FNL Train Service Enhancements
Aberdeen - Inverness Upgrade Plans Issued At Last
 New Railcard Highland Rail Vision News From the Central Belt Franchise News Grub Steak? Unfair Fares for Highlanders Helmsdale Comes Back to Life - Part 2
FNL Golden Jubilee 1963 - 2013: From Long-term Decline to Resurrection?
 Collapse of River Ness Rail Bridge Contributions Obituary - Alastair McPherson Book Review
Did You Ever Want to Become an Engine Driver?
 Yestermonths in Parliament
› › › October
Front Page Headcode Editorial - View From Afar Secretary's Introduction Abellio Awarded ScotRail Franchise First ScotRail Letter to FoFNL
ScotRail Response to FoFNL Complaints
Network Rail Control Period 6 FoFNL Policy Document
 FoFNL Conference Report Months of Misery Inverness Ticket Barriers Highland Main Line Update Inverness - Aberdeen Line Progress The Highland Railway Survey 1994
David St John Thomas - An Appreciation
 Iain Shand - FoFNL Member
Helmsdale Station House - Official Opening
 Culrain for Carbisdale Castle Steaming to Dunrobin and Wick
Ardgay Station 150th Anniversary Celebration
 My First Far North Line Journey Book Review
› › 2015
› › › January
Front Page Headcode Editorial AGM Advance Notice No More Cancellations!
Branchliner - Timber From Caithness & Sutherland
Network Rail CP6 FoFNL Policy Document Part 2
 Note From First ScotRail December 2014 Timetable Review Press Coverage Punctuality Pleases Passengers Faster From Fife Collision Course Averted Highland Main Line Update Caledonian Sleeper Franchise
Inverness - Aberdeen Line Progress
 The New East Coast Franchise Before Our Time Station Usage Figures FNL Electrification FNL Signalling Club 55
Trust Me, I'm Your Tour Manager! - Book Review
 Radio Extends Times at Brora
Inverness - Thurso, An Australian Traveller's Perspective
 An Afternoon in Altnabreac Permanent Way? Yesteryear at Dingwall North Ness Viaduct Collapse 1989 Shadow Ministerial Appointment Yestermonths in Parliament Restoring Railway Clocks
› › › May
Front Page Headcode Editorial Letter from Steve Montgomery
Submissions to Holyrood Freight Inquiry
 HML Freight and Electrification Finnie Wins Support for Far North Line
STOP PRESS! From Infrastructure Questions May 6th
 Scottish Parliament Written Answer
ScotRail Breakdowns to be Halved by Abellio
 We Love OUR Trains May 2015 Timetable Update
Abellio and Network Rail Alliance
 Train Metamporphosis Inverness - Aberdeen Update Transform Scotland News Release Two Summits Brora Station Building Letters to the Editor More Letters A Cold Journey to The Far North HITRANS News Update
Railways in the Highlands: Improving the Model for the Future
 A View From the Sidelines Back to Banff FoFNL Members' Visit to Altnabreac
Going Dutch - A New Rail Cycle in the Far North
 Double Dutch Dictionary
Up Many a Creek With Scores of Paddles - Book Review
 Tina's Tearoom, Dingwall Station Highland Railway Sesquicentenary Miscellany
› › › September
Front Page Headcode Editorial Minor Details Newsletter No.40 Revisited 2015 AGM Thurso Heritage Society Website New Trains in Scotland
Defibrillator for Inverness Station
 Line and Rolling Stock Updates Inverness - Aberdeen
Temporarily Permanent Speed Restriction
 HITRANS FNL Progress Report HITRANS Branchliner
Faster Service Between the Highlands and Edinburgh in Jeopardy?
 Train to Black Isle Show
The Question of the Refurbished 158s
 Lunatic Line Transport Focus Events Sept 2015 Book Review Letters to the Herald FoFNL Conference 1995 - 20 Years On Lentran Long Loop Request Stops Fond Memories of the Coffee Pot Two Far North Projects Lesson From The Recent Past Invergordon Opportunity ABC on the Far North Line Stations News
Parliamentary Questions and Answers
 DVD Review
› › 2016
› › › January
Front Page Headcode Editorial
FoFNL Submission to Transport Scotland Railfreight Consultation
David Spaven - Railway Atlas of Scotland
 Far North Blockade Far North Line Update Highland Main Line Update Inverness - Aberdeen Update
HITRANS Rail Stakeholder Conference
 Station Usage Figures 2014-15 Stations Survey 2015
Summary of FNL Station Visits - August 2015
Summary of Inverness Station Visit - August 2015
Model Railway: Culrain Station in 1960
 Interesting Question...
The Urgent Need for the Lentran Long Loop
ScotRail Signs Up to Town Centre First Principle
 Viewhill House Restoration Project Trackwalker 2016 AGM Book Reviews Helmsdale Station Update Parliamentary Questions and Answers ...and Finally
› › › May
Front Page Headcode Editorial Your Committee Far North Line Update Caithness - Edinburgh Sleeper
Scotland Route Study - FoFNL Response
 Book Review Parliamentary Questions Serco Class 73s Travel North Highland Main Line Update Delivering the Goods Dual Tracks!
Campaign for Better Transport Challenges CSRF Report
Georgemas Railhead Could Benefit Caithness Economy
 Inverness - Aberdeen Update
Storm Damage on West Coast Main Line
 Transport Policy
Effective Representation for Rail Passengers: a loss of Focus?
The Economic Contribution of Rail in Scotland
 Bikes on Trains New Far North Line History John Thurso to Chair VisitScotland
A Railman Remembers
1 - Stumbling Upon a Job
 Franchise Rules What If...? Properties For Sale
› › › September
Front Page Headcode and Conference Report Editorial
Worst Ever Far North Punctuality?
 Subscription Rates FoFNL Email Chatter
FoFNL Response to HITRANS
Regional Transport Strategy Refresh
 Scotland Route Study - July 2016
Transport Focus National Rail
Passenger Study, Spring 2016
 Verster Visit
Level Crossings - Part 9:
Some Odds and Ends
 Far North Line Update Highland Main Line Update Inverness - Aberdeen Update Inverness Station Upgrade Parliamentary Questions Far North Line in the Press Letter to the Editor Rail Freight - Planning Ahead BaDAG in the News
Swiss Rules - Letter From a Member
 No "Day Returns" From Culbokie A Railman Remembers, Part 2
The "Cycling Scot" Visits Altnabreac
 Forsinard Lookout Tower Caithness Archive Centre
› › 2017
› › › January
Front Page Headcode AGM Editorial Four Meetings and a Result! More Email Chatter
Rail Infrastructure Strategy Consultation
 FoFNL HLOS 2017 Submission Level Crossings - Part 10: Update Parliamentary Questions
Wick Man Keeping Far North Trains On Track
 Station Usage Figures 2015-16 Evanton Station Proposal Cow Strike!
Time Is Now For Fit-For-Purpose Rail Network
High Time the HML Was Soaring Ahead
 HML Update Inverness-Aberdeen Update A Railman Remembers, Part 3 Book Review Police Officer to Councillor
Dingwall Regiment Soldier Honoured
A Station Clock Returns to Helmsdale
The Battle of Jutland: The Orkney Perspective
 Orcadian Railways
› › › May
Front Page Headcode Editorial
AGM Notice and Proposed Amendment
 FNL Punctuality Statistics The Far North Line Review Team Cruise Mission Impossible?
Rail Infrastructure Strategy Consultation Response
 Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill New Alliance Managing Director Nursery Learning Journey ScotRail HSTs Caithness Sleeper Rails By Sea Lairg Oil Train Demise Highland Mainline Update Inverness-Aberdeen Update Level Crossings Update - 11
Transforming Train Travel North of Edinburgh
Reform Scotland:
Bolder Vision Needed
 SunRail A Railman Remembers, Part 4 Jellicoe Specials Centenary
Book Review - Scottish Region Engine Sheds
› › › September
Front Page Headcode Editorial
A Guide to the CP6 Funding Process
Let's Hear It for Transport Scotland
 Letter to The Herald Green Thoughts from Railfuture HML & Inverness Station Updates Inverness - Aberdeen Update
Rail Freight's Role in Tackling Climate Change
 Inverness: 'Somewhere in the South' Alliance News Level Crossing News Caledonian Sleeper News
Things Can Only Get Better (Who Said That?)
 Rail & Sail to Orkney
Book Review - The Insider Rail Guide - Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh
 What is a Tourist Train? In the Works
Aberdeen to Inverness: Memories of the Resources Manager
 All The Stations Jellicoe Express Plaques
A Railman Remembers, 5 - Thanks Mr Postman
 Scotland's "Big Sky Country"
› › 2018
› › › January
Front Page Headcode Editorial
Best Newsletter - Railfuture Gold Award
Pandora Has a Look in the Too Difficult Box
The Highland Main Line - A Caged Tiger Which Needs Released
Highland Main Line Update(d), Nay Modernised?
 Inverness - Aberdeen Update Parliamentary Questions Station Usage Figures 2016-17 Passengers First... Level Crossings Latest Jellicoe Express Plaques Rail Freight Prospects and Benefits Freight Modal Shift Thrumster Station Honours Tourist Train Concept 1959
Inverness: 'Somewhere in the South', Part 2
 Far Away But Maybe Not So Different Caithness Narrow Gauge
A Railman Remembers, 6 - Shunting With Care
 Book Shelf AGM 2018 Helmsdale Station Award
› › › May
Front Page Headcode
AGM & Conference 1st June 2018
Pandora Has a Look at the Laws of Physics
 Review Team Report Level Crossings - 12 Update Book Notice Parliamentary Questions Snow Problem Ardgay - Golspie 150
Transport Scotland Workshop Report
Peter Moore - North Highland Photographer
 HSTs Are Coming Serco Stock Arrives in Scotland Midnight Train to Georgemas Inverness-Aberdeen Improvements
HITRANS Rail Stakeholder Conference, January 2018
 Grasping the Opportunities Find Us On Facebook Climate Change and Modal Shift
Rail Could Take the Strain Off Our Roads
We Need to Push More Freight Onto Railways
Inverness: 'Somewhere in the South', Part 3
 Dunrobin's Sisters
The FNL and the Highland League Football Supporter
 Culrain Station Brora Station Timetable Out of Time
Another Overseas Comparison : Vancouver Island
A Railman Remembers, 7 - The Music Station
 Transport Focus Pipes to Georgemas The Peffery Way Return of the JDI? Sea Defence Repair
› › › September
Front Page Headcode Bob Barnes-Watts AGM & Conference Report Praise for ScotRail Conductor ORR 2018 Periodic Review Review Team Meeting FoFNL Press Releases
Inverness - Aberdeen
Improvements
 Far North Line Update Inverness - Aberdeen Update HML Must be Able to Compete With A9 Fiery Train Barmouth, a Lesson From Wales? Freight Failure Network Rail Devolution
BTP and Police Scotland Merger on Hold
 Georgemas Pipe Trains Parliamentary Questions
Rural Economy & Connectivity Committee
 Passenger Rights Pandora Looks South Cruise Ships and Trains
Level Crossings - 13: Just In Case You Were Wondering
 Timetable Chaos Platform 1864 Award Class 153 Conversion Something to Think About The Garve & Ullapool Railway (Part 1) Article Inspires Memories Kildonan Station Loads of Potatoes
A Railman Remembers, 8 - One Potato, Two Potato...
 Lairg 150 Exhibition Rogart Cairn Highland Railcard Book Reviews
› › 2019
› › › January
Front Page Headcode FoFNL 2019 AGM Remembering Bob Barnes-Watts Broken Connections Far North Line Update
Transforming the Highland Main Line: An Urgent Task
 Inverness - Aberdeen Update Station Usage Figures
Book Review - The Kyle of Lochalsh and Far North Lines
 Parliamentary Questions Greens Call for More Rail Freight
A Recent Observation by Our Secretary
 Vivarail Demonstration
Pandora Pokes Around What Lies at the Rainbow's End
 Good Work Should Not Go Unnoticed Inverness Station Did You Know...? Points Failure Level Crossings - 14
Getting Around the Highlands and Islands
 FNL - Wartime Line of Duty The Garve & Ullapool Railway (Part 2)
Book Review
Change at Brockenhurst
A Railman Remembers
9 - The End of the Innocence
 Thrumster Station
John Yellowlees Considers New Zealand Railways
Charters: “Scotland Open for Business”
Steam Dreams - Highlands & Islands Explorer 2019
 Raildar Inter7City Circle
› › › May
Front Page Headcode Highland Survivor FoFNL 2019 AGM & Conference ScotRail Remedial Plan Clearing the View Freight Future
Far North Line Investment Is On the Right Track
 Highland Main Line Investment
Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project
 £1.6 Million Depot Upgrade Parliamentary Questions New Sleeper Stock Debut Letters to the Editor Not the Buchan Line! Norway Imagination Pandora Opens the Fare Box Technology Advances Determined Effort Strathpeffer Speeding BTP Merger Rail Work Rewarded Final Jellicoe Plaque Unveiled A CRP For the Far North Line?
CIS Installations Nearly Complete
DVDs Review: Steam Driver's Eye View
Stay Safe With Network Rail & Thomas
 Inverness Tram Map Bridge Strike Driver Fined Posh Trains to the North? Time Does Transfix
Charlevoix: Lovely But Look Carefully
› › › September
Front Page Headcode 2019 AGM - Convener's Report 2019 FoFNL Conference Report Shuttle Stuck at Stanley... Inverness - Aberdeen Update Control Experience New CIS on FNL Active Travel Carriages Pandora Caithness Sleeper BTP Merger Dropped Inverted Priorities Inverness Gridlock Parliamentary Questions
Alex Hynes to Give Keynote Speech
 Letter to the Editor Rail Investment Railway Resilience Far North Excursion Article Débâcle PHEW Dingwall Bid Wick Regeneration Brora Station John Melling SFJB Report Truly Transformative Great Scenic Tasting Box A Royal Route Mayflower in May
Ness Islands Railway Vandalised
A Peatland World Heritage Site?
› › 2020
› › › January
Front Page Headcode 2020 AGM Announcement Pandora Franchise Termination in the Press Review Team - Final Report Tony Glazebrook on RT Final Report Class 153 News
Railfreight - a Key Part of Tackling the Climate Emergency
 Climate Challenge Membership Matters Joined-up Transport? Epidemic of Wasted Energy HML Update Inverness - Aberdeen Update Azuma Track Test Parliamentary Questions Travel to the Highlands Caledonian Sleeper Letters to the Editor Inverness Interchange A Railway Terminus on the Moon Dunrobin Progress The Blackbird Sings Deer Leaps Book Reviews
› › › May
Front Page Headcode Pandora
Bob Maclennan - An Appreciation
 Thinking Big in Government
Strategic Transport Projects Review 2008...
 Inverness - Aberdeen Update Parliamentary Questions Towards a Highland Hub
Time for Timber Trucks to Give Way to Trains
 SPICe Spotlight Twenty Years On Station Usage Figures 2018-19 Dealing With Rail Tragedy Cromarty Frustration Weaving the Far North Thread Sources of Power Book Review Disabled Persons Railcard Historic Halkirk Ledger No Book - Review ScotRail Staff Charity Success Sleeper Report WWI Dalmore Branch The Fin Del Mundo Railway From Kashmir to Kinbrace
› › › September
Front Page Headcode CIS Success Pandora FNL Review Team News Inverness Transport Hub News Decarbonisation Action Plan Letters to the Editor - Nordic Lines Parliamentary Questions Class 158 - Thirty Years in Service HML Promises 2006 Dynamic Strategic Planning Timber Trial Freight Lines HIE Misses Rail Emphasis
CO2 Savings Wiped Out by New Roads
 Tough on Carbon Emissions Inward Investment is Reassuring 150th Anniversaries Churchill Barriers 75th Anniversary Dalmore Mystery Solved Royal Train From Invershin Picturing Scotland Book Review St Valery Remembered Autumn Comes Clachnaharry Swing Bridge Scrubs Supplies by ScotRail
› › 2021
› › › January
Front Page Headcode FoFNL Business Stakeholder Panel Relaunch Pandora
Lentran Loop - Light at the End of the Tunnel
GRIP - Richard Ardern Contemplates the Process
 Dual the Highland Main Line
Borders Railway - Model for Recovery
Glenfarg Route - Cross-Party Support
 Put More Freight Onto Rail Timber Trial Notes HITRANS Reports An Act of Reciprocity Book Review - The Northern Barrage Hydrogen Conversion Hydrogen Policy Statement Battery Power Karen Cragg Station Usage Figures Parliamentary Questions
Delayed Improvements Cause Diversion Problems
 Infrastructure Investment Plan Letter NTS2 Delivery Plan Railway News Delny LX Replacement Brora Rail! Out of the Station Window Organic Opportunity Inverness Airport Station Kintore Station Reopens Bus Planning Kyle Campaign 50 Years On Caroline Travels North A V4 at Thurso? Far North Memories
› › › May
Front Page Headcode Rail For All Pandora Rail Freight Reflections Parliamentary Questions Retiring VPs How Did They Do? News Round-Up FoFNL Red Wheel Ronnie Munro - Classic Railwayman
The Opening of the Duke of Sutherland's Railway
 Raily Mail Canadian Hydrogen Power Coul Links Again Delny Bridge Aids Evanton Case Change at Inverness New ScotRail Accidental Allegory Driftbusters! To Scotland in the 1950s
Book Review - Scottish Highland Railways
 Electrifying Scenic Railways Trains For Tourists Sarah Boyack Talks to CILT Ben Alder - New Build Project
› › › September
Front Page Headcode Pandora Ponders the Future
Pandora Looks to the "New Normal"
 LNER Steps Back
Scotland's Railway - The Year Ahead
 Keith Farr ZET Comes to Caithness...?
Can the Greens Green the SNP on Transport?
 Premier Inn Arrives in Thurso
The Highland Council on the Wrong Side of the Road
 Great British Railways Travelling on the Far North Line Parliamentary Questions Sunday Strikes
When Will the Sun Shine on the HML?
 Customer-Unfriendly Newton Vindicated Wick Works Kildonan Crossing Replacement The Perils of Bad Handwriting News Round-Up Red Wheel Day Book Review Carbisdale Castle Sold? Corporate Vandalism Norway in the News Channel 5 Goes North
› › 2022
› › › February
Front Page Headcode Stop Press - STPR2 FoFNL AGM 2021 Request Stop Rollout Pandora Leaves Above the Line Parliamentary Questions ScotRail - New Structure HML - New Structure Personalised Pocket Timetables Letters to The Scotsman A Rail Strategy For the North Pitiful Capability of the HML New Bus Strategy Needed Thurso Flagstone Tramway The New HITRANS App for MaaS Caithness History Scapa Flow Museum Expands Pop-up Stalls at Wick and Thurso First HST on FNL? Disaster Averted Altnabreac Achievement Low Carbon Logistics Taking Up the Slack Freight Belongs on Rail Clean and Green Railfreight Flourishes... User Errors - (Level Crossings) Channel 5 Success Station Usage Figures A Railway Too Far Birth of Dalcross Station
› › › May
Front Page Headcode FoFNL Aims & Actions Distance Versus Journey Time Pandora Dalcross Progress STPR2 KlimaTicket Transport and Climate Parliamentary Questions Freight Multiple Unit? Cyril Bleasdale OBE
A New Meaning to Becoming a Stationmaster!
 Roller Coaster Railway Memories of Borrobol Halt Catering Trolleys Return Local Communication
The North's Worst Winter for 25 Years (1955)
Ardgay Signal Box: hung, drawn and newly quartered
 'E Poor Wee Lybster Train Stabilisation Works
Book Review - Scotland's Lost Branch Lines
 Electrifying Innovation Far North Landscapes
› › › September
Front Page Headcode AGM 2022 - Convener's Report AGM & Conference Report Modern Railways Editorial Celebrating the Duke's Railway Pandora Request to Stop ScotRail - New Trains Procurement David Shirres on Hydrogen Trains
Hydrogen Trains Enter Service in Germany
 Stadler Rail Press Release Parliamentary Questions Cassandra Writes Plus Ça Change Will the Red Light Turn to Green? Electricity Feeder Station Plan Station Survey 2022
Getting Value for Money on Rail Investment
 Dalcross Blockade
Integrated Transport in the Netherlands
 Chiltern Railways: The Inside Story Jim Welsh Remembered Moving On Young Stationmaster Looks Back
› › 2023
› › › January
Front Page Headcode Pandora Fair Fares for Scotland Britain's Railway Passengers Survey Delmore Testing ScotRail Regional Roundtable STPR2 Final Report Station Usage Figures Stewart Nicol New Rolling Stock - FoFNL's View Traction Selection Vivarail HITRANS Rail Round Up Conon Bridge Station 50 Years Ago Lairds in Waiting - Book Review Timber Transport Parliamentary Questions Somewhere Under the Rainbow Castle Finds New Owner Green Roofs Network Rail Ecology Focus Please, Stop the Digital World... Bridge Unfilling Adrian Shooter France Acts on Short Haul Flights Robert Garrow
› › › May
Front Page Headcode Pandora New Ministers Parliamentary Questions Highland Main Line Questions The Welsh Perspective HLOS Published Flying in the Face of Modal Shift Letter to the Editor We Couldn't Have Put it Better RETB Improvements
Here At Last! Inverness Airport Station
 Welcome to Rail Highland Council Opportunity Freight in Scotland Executive Column Stewart Nicol Inverness Hydrogen Hub Opportunity Cromarty Firth Rolling Stock Developments Cairngorm Mountain Railway Coradia in Canada Express Internet LMS 100
Book Review - Highland Railway Buildings
 70 Years Ago Kyle Station Museum
› › › September
Front Page Headcode Save the Date Pandora
New Airport Station is Emergency Terminus
 AGM & Conference Report FNL Community Rail Partnership HML Anniversary The A9 Campaign If You Build It They Will Come Transport Stasis Cassandra Parliamentary Questions Vital Signs ScotRail Discussions On Your Bike on the Train Cruise Ship Conundrum Station Timetable Posters Nightmare Averted Fare Comment Plane Speaking Class 93 Orkney Red Wheel Dunrobin Update Manx Connection
Book Review - The Highland Falcon Thief
 RETB Success Great Musgrave Finale
Book Review - The Kyle of Lochalsh and Far North Lines
 Thrumster Electrified
› › 2024
› › › January
Front Page Headcode AGM & Conference Pandora News of Defibrillators Delny Bridge Cancelled A Question of Capacity and Ambition Strung Along? View From the Soapbox Road to Ruin HS2 Beheaded Parliamentary Questions Station Usage Figures Notes From the Far North Line Not As Easy At ABC Bike Stands Lottery Dunfermline Customer Service Centre Longitudinal Timbers Renewals Bridge Refresh Miranda Cottage Jamie's Journal Electrifying 'News' Cruise Ship Comments Caledonian Sleeper Experience Bus Experiment Michael Field Video Productions
› › › May
Front Page Headcode Pandora FNL 150 FoFNL AGM & Conference FoFNL Committee Meetings Reports Cancellations Inverness Info Cycle Storage Upgrades Why Are We Members of FoFNL? Newspaper Exchange John Macnab Scotland's Railway Delivery Plan Stop Press Moving On From Your Overseas Correspondent Trainline Travesty Altnabreac Parliamentary Questions Class 197 Fair Fares Eventually? A9 vs HML Highland Autobahn Wick in Wartime An Early Royal Visit to Thurso Letter to the Editor
› › › September
Front Page Headcode
Far North Line 150th Anniversary
 Pandora FNL 150 - Forsinard AGM & Conference 2024 Membership Matters
High-Speed Internet on the Train
 Superfast Trains? I7C Units To Be Replaced
Will the Red Light Turn to Green?
 Cassandra Discontinuous Electrification
Long-Term Decisions Needed Now
 Parliamentary Questions Timber Trains Approaching Witches' Hats Anne-Mary Paterson Beauly Express No More Rail Mail News & Views Introducing SCOTO Bilbster Family Quest World Heritage Site Book Reviews

Newsletter of The Friends of The Far North Line

The campaign group for rail, north of Inverness, lobbying for improved services for the local user, tourist and freight operator

Issue 46

January 2009

Sandy Colley

Sandy Colley

Track renewal at Dunrobin

Network Rail

Track renewal in Sutherland

Network Rail

I am indebted to Network Rail and Sandy Colley for the use of their photographs on this page.

I was spoilt for choice with regard to the selection available from Network Rail because at their presentation to the Rail Stakeholders Group organised by HITRANS on 1/12/08 they showed many photos of improvements taking place on the Far North, Kyle and Highland Main Lines and the major improvements undertaken at the Needlefield Yard preparing for its use by the Eddie Stobart trains transporting the Tesco containers.

Editor