'Strong demand' for new Sutherland train stop
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Early results from a survey on the proposed reinstatement of a train stop in Edderton have revealed that 90 per cent of respondents would like to see the project come to fruition.
The survey, which has had over 100 responses so far, was launched by Edderton Community Council last week as part of a fact-finding mission to garner support for proposals to add a request stop on the Far North Line.
Only four per cent responded in opposition.
85 per per cent of those who completed the survey said they were Edderton residents, with a further 6 per cent noted as visitors or temporary residents. They survey also revealed that 85 per cent of respondents are already train users.
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Edderton Community Council chair Gordon Allison welcomed the early results of the survey.
Mr Allison said: "I think what this exercise has confirmed is a very strong demand for re-establishing a train stop in Edderton. People are keen to stop using cars if possible, and with the Far North Line running through the heart of Edderton it seems inconceivable that we are prevented from making full use of it and doing our bit for the environment in the process."
Survey findings also revealed the likely destinations of commuters travelling from Edderton. Top of the list was Inverness with 90 per cent of respondents saying they would take the train to the Highland capital, while nearby Tain was the most popular town destination with 73 per cent.
18 per cent said they would travel north to Sutherland villages such as Brora and Golspie, while 22 per cent would use the service to journey to Caithness stops in Wick or Thurso.
Mr Allison added: "It is interesting that the demand has a very strong inter-community flavour, but with the more obvious larger destinations also featuring. Secondly it should be noted that the survey was looking primarily at outward bound travel, and our work has still to look at inbound travel which, with the award-winning Balblair distillery and other local attractions on our doorstep, is likely to be substantial.
"We clearly can't use the old station location, which is now a private dwelling, but there are a number of alternative locations within the village, and we'll model our expectations on a request stop service similar to Conon Bridge."
The original Edderton Railway Station, first opened in 1864, was closed in 1960. But Mr Allison states that the reason for closure was not due to "lack of use", but moreso a case of time management.
He now hopes that Edderton can follow the examples of stations in Beauly and Conon Bridge by reopening.
Mr Allison added: "As I understand it, the reasons were not 'lack of use' or "'poor demand', but a desire to prevent the steam locomotives of the day having to stop and start too often, allowing the railway company to shave 40 minutes off the Inverness to Wick journey time.
"This would not be an issue with the acceleration from a standing start with today's diesel multiple units, compared to the time a steam hauled train takes to start up from a stand and reach line speed.
"The closures were based on a mileage-between-station basis rather than on likely passenger use and some sizable communities lost their station such as Beauly, Conon Bridge and Evanton whilst at other smaller settlements the station was retained.
"In 1976 and 1983, respectively, the stations in Muir of Ord and Alness were reopened and 2002 saw the reopening of Beauly station. Conon Bridge station was reopened in 2013.
"We'd like to add Edderton to that list of reopened destinations."
