A long-awaited sleeper rail service linking Caithness with the central belt will move the county forward and enhance tourism to the north, according to Highland Council’s Conservative transport spokesman.
A full business case on the economic benefits – including tourism impacts – of a sleeper train is to be investigated by the north’s transport partnership, Hitrans.
It is keen to progress the ambitious proposals to the next stage, believing such a service would be a massive boost to the northern Highlands – and also Orkney if timed to connect with ferry services to the islands.
The Hitrans board has given its backing for further work to be carried out to examine the benefits of a night-time service – dubbed The Midnight Train to Georgemas after one of the train stations the proposed sleeper would visit.
Thurso and north-west Caithness councilllor Struan Mackie, the Highland Conservatives’ transport spokesman, welcomed the move.
He said: “This is a development which is an important step in realising the long-held ambition to have sleeper services connecting the Far North to Scotland’s major cities.
“Ongoing dialogue with Serco, the Caledonian Sleeper operator, is vital to keeping this on the table and I fully expect that any proposals will be supported by the business case.
“Overnight services can act as a catalyst in the growth of high value tourism, as well as private business who value the flexibility of travel and lodging.
“I am a regular traveller on the Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness to London and in many ways it a more convenient option.”
Mr Mackie added: “Connectivity is absolutely key to getting our county going forwards and I believe this would add to the options available [for the public] to travel on public transport later than is currently available.
“Seeing additional rail traffic on what is a vital lifeline route is something that would be roundly welcomed.
“We need to see the Far North Line with a genuine mix of passenger, mixed freight and specialised cargos if we want to see its infrastructure developed and protected.”
The Thurso to Edinburgh/Glasgow rail journey overnight would cover around 328 miles in just over seven hours.
A service with two sleeper carriage and two seated carriages is proposed, leaving Thurso at 7.30pm, reaching Inverness at 11.30pm, Aberdeen at 2.30am and Edinburgh at 5.30am.
A northbound train would leave Edinburgh at 11.50pm, arriving in Thurso for 10.30am.
