A row has broken out over contingency train services to the south of Inverness after it emerged there will not be any travel beyond Aviemore – 70 miles north of the flood-hit area which has forced the closure of the Highland Main Line.
Rail services between Inverness and the central belt will be suspended until next Monday after more than 400 tonnes of ballast was washed away from under the track south of Dunkeld.
But one Highland resident who was trying to get from Kingussie to Inverness for a hospital appointment discovered it was the bus or nothing.
Scotrail Abellio said they are only running trains as far as Aviemore because the station is the best option a temporary terminus, with more staff and more regular train services.
But disgruntled passengers have been left baffled – and angered – by the decision not to stretch the service further south.
Graham MacDonald, of Kenmore, Jonathan’s Brae, Kingussie, regularly visits Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for check-ups on an eye condition.
The 73-year-old can not take his car because the eye drops he receives stop him from driving for six hours afterwards.
For his 2pm appointment on Thursday, Mr MacDonald will take a 9.30am bus from Kingussie to Carrbridge before transferring to another bus that goes to Inverness.
Yesterday he said: “I have two pals working on the railway and they are mystified as to why these trains are shuttling back and forth to Aviemore and Inverness and can not figure out why they can not go at least as far as Piltochry.
“Pitlochry is about 44 miles from Kingussie and Dunkeld is at least 55 miles. For me, it’s just a little bit of added aggravation. It won’t stop me from getting to my appointment.”
A Scotrail Abellio spokesman said: “As a larger staffed station with regular train services, Aviemore is currently the best option for trains to terminate during this disruption for reasons including staffing, timetabling and replacement transport connections for customers.”
In response, Mr MacDonald added: “It’s not as if there is no staff here or further south. It’s quite a disappointing response from Scotrail. There must be such a number of working folk who depend on the rail link from Kingussie to Inverness. It must upset their routine.”
Highland MSP and Labour’s shadow transport spokesman David Stewart said he will be raising the matter during meetings with Abellio bosses and on Thursday with Transport Minister Derek Mackay.
He added: “Surely the question should be what is convenient for customers rather than for the management of Abellio. I will be raising my constituent’s concerns.”