Timekeeping has been generally better over the past few months as the Secretary's weekly reports on our website show. At the end of September he will be filing his 100th report. Well done Malcolm!

The last meeting of the FNL Review Team is also due this month and we look forward to hearing what improvements to FNL infrastructure and services are to go ahead. HITRANS' bid for money for a study on the possible reopening of Evanton station was not immediately successful but no doubt they will try again. The village mounted a strong campaign for the reinstatement of their work- and school- time bus service to Dingwall. If more local rail services between Inverness and Invergordon are proposed, Evanton could be a part of that.

Another source of future business for the line could be the proposed UK space port at Melness on the north coast which has been awarded £2.5m of initial funding. Lairg could be the passenger and freight hub for that. The historical exhibition about the railway through Lairg is open until the end of October at the Ferrycroft Centre.

We have still had no details of the £6m proposals for Inverness station improvements although invitations to tender have been sought. Following a request from FoFNL, a Highland Railcard leaflet has been published. Sadly, the pocket timetable famine at Inverness over the busiest weeks of the summer may well have lost some potential passengers. Publicity with both of these leaflets is essential to market rail services in the north.