Bill Reeve, Director of Rail at Transport Scotland, said in a recent issue of RAIL magazine that Transport Scotland would love to see regular charter trains on the Far North Line. He pointed out that the franchise agreement gives ScotRail the necessary service flexibility. He said that on the Borders Railway it is seen as economically rational to run charter trains in actual service paths, cancelling a couple of lightly used off-peak trains in the process.

Mr Reeve added that he intends to keep Scotland free of the European Control System until a cost effective method of fitment to heritage traction is found.