Detailed design work is continuing on the Aberdeen to Inverness (A2I) improvements. The most advanced construction is the new Elgin footbridge and lifts. The Aberdeen-end starter and Elgin yard access semaphore signals have been replaced by colour lights.

New footbridge, lifts and colour light signals for Elgin.
6th March 2016.

A public information event was held at Inverness Airport on 21 April with plans for the new station, car park and bus stop on display prior to submission of the planning application. There was quite a lot of coverage in the press, most recently a letter in The Press & Journal from the Airport Manager saying that there definitely will be a bus service from the station to the terminal. No details of frequency were given.

It has been suggested to Network Rail that the third [centre] track through Inverurie should be reinstated. This would be particularly useful when diversions of the sleeper and freights from the HML are in force. It would allow these non-stop trains to overtake when both platforms are in use by service trains, whether terminators or through services.

As mentioned last time, it is essential that more capacity is provided sooner than ever at the Inverness end (double track) and in the middle (dynamic loop between Elgin and Keith). This would put an end to many of the service delays caused by late running which would be likely to increase as more trains are added to this single track line with insufficient passing loops.