UK: Inverness Airport station opened to passengers on February 3, after being inaugurated by Scottish Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth the previous day.
The station 12 km northeast of the city on the line to Aberdeen is intended to improve transport links to the airport, business park and new town of Tornagrain.
It has two platforms with step-free access via a footbridge with lifts. There are 64 car parking spaces with 10 electric vehicle charging facilities, four disabled spaces and cycle parking. The station is linked to the airport terminal building by a bus and a footpath which skirts around the end of the runway.
The project undertaken by BAM, Aecom and other contractors included 7 km of track renewals, provision of 950 m of double-track through the station and the installation of 10 modular signals. Construction of a footbridge to the west of the station enabled the closure of two level crossings.
‘The £42m package provided by the Scottish government, including the station and wider rail network infrastructure investment will build resilience and additional capacity’, said Gilruth. ‘By making rail a more attractive option, we can encourage more people to choose this sustainable transport option as an alternative to the car. By providing easy access for nearby communities to the key cities of Aberdeen and Inverness, we can encourage inward investment and housing growth, which will both support the local and wider economies.’
