The Friends of the Far North Line
Cairdean Na Loine Tuath
the campaign group for rail north of
Inverness - lobbying for improved services for the local user, tourist and freight
operator
In December Network Rail announced the completion in Spring 2023 of the roll-out of Request to Stop kiosks at eight Far North Line stations, with the final two being at Altnabreac and Dunrobin Castle.
Geoff Marshall of All the Stations fame and Roger French, writer of the Bus and Train User blog, made a special visit in February to experience the new kiosk at Invershin for themselves and were surprised to be sharing the platform with a couple of peacocks.
The kiosks have been well received by the public, although the demise of having to stop the train by putting out an arm has become instantly nostalgic for some!
In another element of the £5m package of investment in the line's radio signalling system, Telent, working for Network Rail, has upgraded existing radio communication masts and antennas and installed new equipment at Muir of Ord, Invergordon, Kildonan and Wick stations to enhance radio coverage on the line.
FoFNL hopes that Transport Scotland and Network Rail keep up the momentum of improvements to the RETB system while they have such a skilled team available.