Highland Main Line
The Highland Main Line is a mostly single-track, non-electrified railway line in Scotland. It runs from Perth to Inverness and is therefore part of three and a half hour long distance from Glasgow or Edinburgh to the Highlands. The line extends over a length of 190 kilometers. While managing the infrastructure of the Network Rail is responsible, the First ScotRail and East Coast are responsible for operations. Both offer daily even a continuous connection to London.
History and Description
Building owner for most of the route was the Highland Railway, only a small portion of the surrounding area of Perth was created by the Scottish Midland Junction Railway, which was merged with the Aberdeen Railway in 1856 for the Scottish North Eastern Railway. The previous route between Inverness and Perth led via Forres and then on the route Aberdeen - Inverness Nairn via the trains to / from Perth but since 1898 operate on a more direct link via Carrbridge.
On the Drumochter Pass ( Pass of Drumochter ) the route crosses the boundary between the northern and the southern Highlands. The pass Drumochter Summit is 452 meters, the highest point in the British standard gauge railway network. The river is crossed Nairn near Inverness on the 549 meter long Culloden Viaduct.
The connection Aviemore Forres is only to Broomhill in operation. It is operated as a heritage railway by the Strathspey Railway. In the 1960s, this section of the old Highland Main Line of the Beeching Axe fell victim, as well as all secondary lines.
Operation
First ScotRail goes all the way through every two hours from Inverness to Perth, then these traits are linked either via Stirling to Glasgow Queen Street Station or via Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh Haymarket train stations and Edinburgh Waverley. Furthermore, First ScotRail operates every night except Saturday night train Caledonian Sleeper, which runs from Inverness to London Euston. The route from Inverness via Perth and Stirling to Edinburgh Waverley, where the train makes head and with the other two Caledonian Sleeper Part trains from Aberdeen and Fort William (via the West Highland Line) will be combined and applied to the drive over the West Coast Main Line to London form the longest run covering material with a conventional train.
The East Coast leads daily High Speed Train composition as Intercity under the name The Highland Chieftain of Inverness via Perth, Stirling, Edinburgh and the East Coast Main Line from London's Kings Cross. The total driving time is approximately 8 hours.
Problems
The Highland Main Line is mainly single track, only the distance between Blair Atholl and Dalwhinnie on the Drumochter Pass and each a few kilometers north of Perth, south of Inverness are expanded to double track. Accordingly, the trains have to meet the doubling sections or in the few crossing stations. In addition, in the winter, especially in the area of the pass road again disabilities through snow drifts, leading to cancellation of, or at least long delays.
Gallery
Concourse in Perth
Boat of Garten station with museum vehicles, 1989