Inverness Airport Railway Station is Open
The 25-year-long journey to the opening of the Inverness Airport Railway Station has finally come to an end and Elgin folk can now take a train from Elgin to Inverness Airport.
Scotland’s Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth took the first train into the £42 million station, which has been built on the existing Inverness-Aberdeen rail line. The occasion was marked with a grand opening ceremony at the platform this afternoon.
Gilruth hopes the new facility will be transformational for the region. “We need to get people out of their cars and back to public transport,” she said. The wider improvements to the infrastructure in the east of Inverness, including the passing loop and new pedestrian footbridge, will help to reduce journey times and increase the capacity of the rail network.
Inverness Airport Station Features
The station itself cost £15 million and paid for two 490ft platforms and a bridge with lifts linking the two platforms. It features ramped active travel paths to both platforms, cycle parking on each platform for 20 bikes, and a 64-space car park with 10 electric vehicle charging facilities.
Location and Connectivity
One of the most common questions ahead of the opening was why the station and terminal aren’t closer together. The station is half a mile from the airport terminal, but a lit walkway funded by Hitrans connects the two facilities. Stagecoach provides a regular bus service between the station and the airport terminal hourly, and half-hourly during peak times, costing £1.80 for a one-way ticket.
Future Improvements
A plan to replace the passenger terminal at Inverness Airport with a new building situated closer to the railway station is being considered by Highlands and Islands Airports (Hial). It is one of four options for expanding the terminal to meet forecast growth in customer numbers under consideration by Hial.
For those travelling by train from Elgin to Inverness Airport, the journey to the new Inverness Airport Railway Station takes around 32 minutes and costs £11.30. Although the new station may not be right next to the airport terminal, it’s great to see air and train connectivity linked up for travelling to and from Elgin.