Present: Ian Budd (Convener), David Start (Treasurer) Richard Ardern, Angus Stewart (Membership Secretary), Iain MacDonald, Malcolm Wood, Richard Mansfield, and Neil Wallace (Secretary).

Also Frank Roach (HITRANS) for last item.

IB reported on his July meeting with David Simpson on topics explained in FNE 90. Also on meeting with Anne Gray who stated there were no plans to produce pocket timetables or timetable posters at stations. FoFNL had offered to help redraft local information posters, thus helping to address anomalies raised in station surveys.

NW gave examples of a combination of concerns raised with ScotRail on behalf of a visually disabled passenger who had experienced disruption at Conon Bridge station. Lack of CCTV at this station made monitoring and investigation more difficult.

IB spoke about ScotRail's action to deal with an overcrowded train at Inverness caused by cruise passengers returning to Invergordon - no options currently available for increasing train capacity on this service to cope with all such additional loadings.

NW had witnessed passengers for Scrabster ferry being unable to find a taxi on arrival at Thurso station. IB would check the extent of ScotRail information provided on this.

IB noted that a Thurso-Wick shuttle service may not be a viable proposal, due to the number of bus or train options already available. There were no developments regarding possible trials of alternative fuels on this section of FNL.

FoFNL continuing to liaise with SAPT/FoWHL for combined submission to Transport Scotland.

NW mentioned KTR (Rail Delivery Group's "Key Train Requirements") v7 revision and suggested autonomous boarding be emphasised.

FoFNL had prepared a pop-up display with free information as part of a Highland Heritage Event in Dingwall in March, and NW would use this again at their upcoming conference. ARCH (Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands) also runs a family event on an occasional basis - it was agreed that FoFNL would look into the assembly of a child-orientated display possibly including quiz-type challenges etc with small gifts from sponsors as an incentive for taking part.

Treasurer agreed allocation of up to £2000 for research study amongst non-users of FNL, subject to appropriate levels of partnership funding.

Committee supported proposal to move £8000 to an account with better interest rates.

Committee succession planning - 2 possible candidates were identified for follow-up.

Preferred date for next AGM to be June 2024, probable venue to be in Inverness.

FNL 150 anniversary in July 2024 - discussed possible special events. RA suggested collaboration with Highland Railway Society, SAPT and FNL CRP.

FR gave a brief update which included the following:

• Delmore loop - no definite timescale has been announced.
• Evanton - consultant's report not yet at a stage for community consultation.
• FNL rerailing - large sums allocated in CP7.
• FNL 150 anniversary - FR able to assist with facilitating arrangements.

Neil Wallace, Secretary

Present: Ian Budd (Convener), David Start (Treasurer) Angus Stewart (Membership Secretary), Richard Ardern, Iain MacDonald, Richard Mansfield, and Neil Wallace (Secretary).

Guests: Chris Lewcock and Les Turner.

Apologies: Malcolm Wood

DS highlighted key points: £26,500 assets and an estimated £850 surplus for year.

Membership numbers remain at 247.

IB circulated a draft paper covering key points to be highlighted at Holyrood meeting.

Modal shift policy and Net Zero commitments require more investment on rail. All rail lines from Inverness consisted of single track, with insufficient passing loops for capacity improvements and service reliability - Delmore Loop construction overdue.

Transport Scotland monitors ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper's quality of service through the Service Quality Inspection Regime (SQUIRE), which is a customer-focused scheme that measures the qualities of facilities at stations and on trains.

NW had been allowed to accompany Transport Scotland's routine inspections round most of the FNL stations and hoped to include Inverness station in the coming weeks. ScotRail has the opportunity to rectify any notice served by Transport Scotland to their satisfaction before a performance score is finally calculated for that period.

Some issues noted by FoFNL were not explicitly part of the audit but were referred to ScotRail for comment; eg access issues to cycle racks, incomplete tactile paving and anomalies with Customer Information Screens regarding Rail Replacement buses.

CL outlined how FoFNL could interact more effectively with relevant planning issues in the context of local and national transport strategies.

LT explained the need for funding incentives to encourage further investment in rail freight operations, to enable modal shift of freight traffic from road to rail.

AGM and Conference to be on Saturday 22nd June at the Town House in Inverness.

FNL 150 anniversary in July 2024 - to be discussed in more detail.

Neil Wallace, Secretary

In a subsequent email Committee Meeting it was agreed that we wished to co-opt both Chris Lewcock and Les Turner onto the committee until the AGM, when they will be up for election. We're delighted to say that they both accepted!