Railway Cuttings

Letter to the Press & Journal Editor, 12.4.2001

Sir,

I write to thank you for staging your travel promotion which was run in conjunction with ScotRail. I travelled from Keith to Thurso on April 4 on a day out with a friend.

From the moment we stepped on to the Aberdeen-Inverness train in Keith at 8.30 am until we returned at 10.29 pm we were treated as though we were VIPs.

The trains were spotless, the toilet facilities equally so and the staff pleasant and helpful, from ticket collectors to platform staff. The drivers got as there on the dot of times scheduled in the timetable. We were advised of the special sites to watch for and given a brief outline of their history. I am an OAP who had the most enjoyable day away on the train.

The Press and Journal and ScotRail should take a bow.

Mary McLachlan,
The Smiddy Croft,
Drummuir, Keith

Wot! - no cycle spaces?

Here is an excerpt from the Inverness Courier 100 years ago.

"The other day three composite carriages for through traffic between Inverness and Glasgow/Edinburgh were finished. The first class compartments are upholstered in rich moquette velvet, the seats being of arm-chair form and exceedingly comfortable for a long journey. The panelling, etc., are elaborately and tastefully executed. The third-class compartments while not so elaborate are equally comfortable, and in keeping with modern ideas. There is lavatory provision in both classes."