New post to help promote ‘world-class’ far north railway line
Moves are under way to promote the “world-class” railway line running through Caithness and Sutherland as a sustainable travel choice for local residents and tourists.
The Far North Line Community Rail Partnership (FNL CRP) will recruit a part-time development officer as part of ambitious plans to improve stations and attract more passengers while fostering social inclusion and economic development in the communities along the route.
FNL CRP is Scotland’s newest community rail partnership. With the support of its partner organisations Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust, Venture North and the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub, it has secured funding of £41,220, split equally between the SSE Renewables Sustainable Development Fund and the Foundation for Integrated Transport.
The money will be used to employ a part-time officer for the next 18 months and to deliver projects identified by the FNL CRP management group. This includes more than 20 organisations with an interest in the line, and the communities it serves, between Ardgay and Thurso/Wick.
The aim is “to deliver various community-led initiatives aimed at enhancing the line’s infrastructure and promoting active and sustainable travel with an appreciation for local heritage and the environment”.
These will include a citizen science photo-post project, highlighting areas of environmental significance, and the creation of station guides to highlight communities and active travel. Efforts will also be made to seek input from communities and stakeholders along the line.
There will be a focus on encouraging more climate-friendly travel options for residents and visitors, including cycling or walking.
David Watson, Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust manager and chairman of the FNL Community Rail Partnership, said: “The Far North Line is a world-class but underperforming asset.
“The journey itself is an amazing experience with an incredible variety of natural and cultural assets along its length. Although it is restricted by its engineering, it presents an amazing opportunity to help sustain the communities that it serves.
“The CRP will form a link between the railway and local communities, bringing together a range of stakeholders, including local businesses and services, along the rail corridor to develop and promote the line, the communities and its attractions.”
Cathy Earnshaw, destination strategy manager for Venture North, the destination management organisation for Caithness and Sutherland, said: “This is a significant milestone for the FNL CRP in a journey that started several years ago from a dedicated volunteer-led campaign by Michael Wilmot of Helmsdale Station CIC to establish a community rail partnership.
“Venture North supports the FNL CRP and works together to promote and encourage sustainable tourism, with the options to choose more climate-friendly travel that cares for our environment and communities.”
News of the funding comes as the Far North Line marks its 150th anniversary. The Sutherland and Caithness Railway Company completed the line north of Helmsdale on July 28, 1874.
The FNL CRP was designated by the Scottish Government in May 2023 as the ninth CRP route in Scotland.
