Summer Newsletter


Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership Summer Newsletter The Partnership have just held their Summer Board meeting in Pitlochry and what an amazing start to the Summer we had. We hosted the RSNO and our senior citizens to an Afternoon Tea Dance in the Atholl Centre, it was a most enjoyable afternoon for over 50 of our local groups members. The music was wonderful, Nell's homemade scones & homemade jam with clotted cream were incredible and the cakes delicious. Well done RSNO, ScotRail and the team from Atholl Centre.

The Heritage Project

The Heritage Project is still moving along slowly, following on from this will be the Heritage Map of the Highland Mainline initially.

We have held one meeting and seen a draft design from our Graphic designer.

A Journey through the History of the Highlands and Eight Stations.

Branding Project

We have now finished our Branding Project and have delivered our new branded containers to all our 8 Railway Stations to raise awareness of our Partnership. We encountered some difficulties in getting them in situ ready for summer planting but they look stunning and we have had favourable comments from foreign tourists as usual.

Floral container at Newtonmore station.


Carrbridge Station Neil Sinclair will be doing his Highland Main Line Talk in the Village Hall on Friday 22nd September at 7pm. Free event. In association with "Friends of Carrbridge Station". Kingussie Station Works on the platform upgrade at Kingussie are coming on apace. The newly raised section is now in use, so passengers no longer need to struggle with portable steps to get on and off the trains. The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of August. There is also the possibility of an Art Project with the Iona Gallery for the Station. Neil Sinclair will be doing his Highland Main Line Talk in Kingussie Community Hall - Talla nan Ros on Thursday 21st September at 7pm. Free event. Dalwhinnie Station We are currently investigating if it is possible to restore the original Station Clock, it is still there, but painted over, we are hopeful a restoration can proceed. Blair Atholl Station Two MacFarlane benches have been noted, a possible restoration project with the four at Pitlochry. Neil Sinclair will be doing his Highland Main Line Talk in the Atholl Arms Hotel on Tuesday 19th September at 7pm. Free event. Dunkeld & Birnam Station No news from us, but a local transport group has formed and we have made contact with them.

Pitlochry Station

We were delighted to welcome back John Yellowlees to open the room dedicated to him at Pitlochry Station Bookshop, a most enjoyable morning as he cut the ribbon on the HML CRP sponsored room.

The Station Bookshop has now taken over £40,000 in the few months since the refurbishment over Christmas, an amazing achievement in such a short time. Without John's enormous contribution to our Station Adopters, Station Liaison Group and the formation of the Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership we would not be where we are today.

Please note the yellow Library steps purchased specially for the event!

Upgrade and decorating of the Platform 1 Waiting Room by Serco has been going on throughout June, it is all finished now. What an improvement, no longer dirty carpet and stained ceiling to look at.

We have added a floral arrangement from the local Floral Art Club in the Pitlochry Tartan colours and recently we refreshed all the posters on the railings designed by our two local secondary pupils for the 150th in 2013. German tourists were trying to buy the old ones, so maybe a postcard project for the future?


Down the Track We will be holding our 2nd annual AGM in Dalwhinnie in September and have two guests coming to present to us, Professor Paul Salveson MBE and Brian Barnsley ACORP Senior Operations Manager. In the Autumn we have renowned author Neil Sinclair coming to give a series of talks up and down the line on the Highland Main Line - specifically about the People and the Buildings. His interest in the history of the line started when listening to his father and developed during holidays on the family farm in Inverness-shire and journeys to and from Rannoch School. Watch our Facebook page for further information.

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Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership

The Heritage Project

Branding Project

Carrbridge Station

Kingussie Station

Dalwhinnie Station

Blair Atholl Station

Dunkeld & Birnam Station

Pitlochry Station

Down the Track