Railway Cuttings

Householders get a taste of what Highland rail links have to offer

A free rail ticket, courtesy of ScotRail, will be dropping through letterboxes at nearly 50,000 Highland homes over the next few days as published in the Press and Journal of 16th October.

The day-return ticket will be available from any station along the routes from Inverness to Kyle or to Wick and Thurso, and is valid from now until December 16. Worth up to £16, it can be used by any family member or simply passed to a friend. The ticket is incorporated into an explanatory leaflet being distributed in Inverness and in towns and villages along the Far North and Kyle routes, providing rail services seven days a week, all year round. The company also brought back day return fares - £16 Inverness - Wick/Thurso and is actively encouraging uptake of its £5 Highland railcard which offers half-price discounts.

The new Sunday services, 11.15 am Inverness - Kyle and 2.30 pm return, and 1.40 pm Wick - Inverness and 6.30 pm return, also enable families to take advantage of ScotRail's Family Funday Sunday tickets giving adults half price return fares when travelling with up to two children aged between 5 and 15. Children go for £2.

ScotRail head of marketing, Don Roberts, said "We're doing our utmost to improve rail links in the north Highlands. Train travel on these routes has never offered better value, with new Sunday services and local residents able to go at half price with a Highland Railcard. The promotion is aimed at encouraging those who may not have travelled by train for some time to give it a try. But we are quite happy for regular customers to enjoy the benefits."