Ross-shire councillors will today launch a new survey to boost the case for re-opening a train station that closed almost 60 years ago.
Local representatives Martin Rattray and Mike Finlayson want the community to show their support for reactivating Evanton Rail Station.
The station was originally opened in 1863 but closed to passengers in 1960, forcing residents to travel more than four miles to either Alness or Dingwall to catch a train.
Since 1960, about 140 Scottish stations have been opened or re-opened, including Alness, Fort William, Duncraig, Muir of Ord, Loch Eil Outward Bound, Dunrobin Castle, Beauly and Conon Bridge.
Now Cromarty Firth councillors want to add Evanton to that list.
In October, the local authority’s Ross and Cromarty committee backed calls for a public consultation to be carried out, and agreed to seek funding to produce a feasibility study.
Mr Rattray said a survey on the proposal would go live today and urged the wider community to participate.
“We’re planning an online survey and one where people can submit paper copies,” the councillor said.
“We’re trying to get in touch with as many as we can. Primarily what we’re trying to do is make the case for the reactivation of the station.
“The next stage is to come out with a consultation survey so we can go out and find out what the business case is.
“We believe we are getting there. We’ve had really good conversations with Hitrans. We think there’s an opportunity to get it open.
“We just want to make sure we’ve got the business case. We’re trying to get as many people who live in Evanton or outside to come and give us our support.”
Mr Finlayson said: “We’ve been trying for a good number of years to get something going here.
“Now we’re able to move forward quite positively, if the community come forward and say they support it.
“It’s not going to happen tomorrow but hopefully it will open in the next few years. Evanton is a growing community and I’d love to see it happen.”
