Detailed plans have been released outlining the proposals for a new £2m railway station located at Inverness Airport…
Hitrans, the Highlands and Islands transport body, has submitted detailed plans for a new railway station at Inverness Airport.
The plans propose the development of a stop at Dalcross close to the airport. This would run on the Inverness to Aberdeen line.
The station, which has been more than two decades in the planning, could become the second busiest station in the Highlands after Inverness and would see every train running on the Inverness to Aberdeen route make a stop at the station.
A cost of £2m is attached to the project, which would see a 575ft long platform installed. This would allow the station to accommodate high speed trains with five carriages and two engine cars.
If the plans are approved, the station would be located adjacent to the C1017 airport access road, between the first and second roundabouts after leaving the existing A96.
The station would comprise of a waiting area, cycle park, electric car point, bus stop, taxi rank, and barrier controlled access road.
To begin with only 50 parking spaces will be constructed. This will later increase to 150. New link roads and cycle paths would also be built to connect it to the existing access roads.
The station will also service the residents of a new village that is being built at Tornagrain.
Speaking to the Press & Journal Frank Roach, partnership manager at Hitrans, said: “This starts the whole process. The fact we have a public consultation is firing the starting gun. After we have the consultation, we will submit the plans to the planners.
“It will make the whole area a more attractive place to live and do business in. It will add to connectivity – flights to the islands, which are important for Hitrans. It will enable folk from Moray to access the airport more effectively than they can at the moment.”
He added: “Ultimately, it’s predicted to become the second busiest station in Highland. The forecast growth, employment, and housing will make this a very obvious site for further development.”
A public consultation will be held on the 21 April at Inverness Airport terminal, after which time the planning application will be submitted. If approval is granted and funding secured the station could open as early as 2018.
