Network Rail has successfully delivered a £15m improvement project on the West Highland Line between Crianlarich and Fort William.
The investment is part of Network Rail’s commitment to the long-term resilience and reliability of the route, helping ensure it connects people and places across the Highlands for years to come.
Over a nine-day closure of the line, engineers worked to deliver a series of critical upgrades, including renewing sections of track, drainage improvements and clearing hazardous vegetation to help protect the line against heavy rainfall and extreme weather conditions.
Key elements of the project included:
- Targeted track renewals, replacing around 10km of rail and more than 9,000 sleepers.
- Renewal of a railway bridge near Corrour, and vegetation management.
- Renewal of five culverts, improving drainage and ensuring structural stability.
- Renewal of Feith footbridge.
Jeremy Spence, route delivery director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “The West Highland Line is a vital transport link for communities and businesses across the Highlands, as well as a world-renowned destination for tourists. These upgrades will help keep services running smoothly and reduce the risk of disruption on a route exposed to some of the harshest conditions on the rail network.
“Delivering this work was no small task."
"Our teams operated in remote, hard-to-reach locations and faced challenging terrain and unpredictable weather throughout the nine-day closure. Their commitment and expertise ensured the project was completed safely and on time.
“We’d also like to thank passengers and local communities for their patience and understanding while the work took place. This investment will make the line more resilient, helping us provide a more reliable railway for everyone who uses it.”
The project is one of several multi-million-pound investments to strengthen the rail infrastructure across the Highlands. In June this year, Network Rail delivered an £11.5m upgrade on the Far North Line, while a £4.5m project on the Kyle Line was completed earlier this month.
Both projects involved renewing sections of track, some of which dated back almost a century. They aim to deliver smoother journeys, reduce the risk of delays, and extend the lifespan of the rail infrastructure.
Image credit: Network Rail
