Remote railway station shut after access problem
A sign near Altnabreac Station in the Caithness Flow Country
At a glance
A station in Scotland's vast Flow Country has been closed temporarily
ScotRail said fewer than 300 people used Altnabreac in the last year
The company said a road access issue had prevented it from carrying out essential maintenance
ScotRail said it hoped to resolve the situation quickly
- Published
One of Britain's remotest railway stations has been temporarily closed to passengers due to problems accessing it by road.
Altnabreac is in the Flow Country, a vast area of peatlands, about 115 miles (185km) north of Inverness and 30 miles (48km) west of Wick.
Fewer than 300 people used the station in the last year, according to ScotRail.
The company said services were suspended because it, along with Network Rail Scotland, had not been granted access to the only road to the site so they could carry out essential maintenance.
The road to the station in Caithness is about five miles (8km) long.
ScotRail has not elaborated on the cause of the access problem.
Rail group, Friends of the Far North Line, said the temporary closure was an " extraordinary situation" and hoped the issue could be resolved quickly.
ScotRail said its intention was to return services as quickly as possible.
Altnabreac, along with eight other stations on the Highlands' Far North Line, operates on a "request to stop" basis.
The other seven sites - Scotscalder, Kinbrace, Kildonan, Dunrobin Castle, Rogart, Invershin and Culrain - recently saw the installation of new kiosks.
The kiosks allow passengers to request an approaching train to stop at the station with the push of a button. A radio system sends a message to the driver’s cab.
Before the kiosks, passengers had to stand on platforms and use a hand signal to alert drivers they wanted to get on.
ScotRail said it had been unable to carry out critical maintenance for a kiosk at Altnabreac "due to the inability to safely access the station".
Altnabreac has been temporarily closed to passengers
Service delivery director David Simpson said withdrawing services was always a last resort.
He said: “It is very disappointing that services will temporarily not call at Altnabreac because we can’t access the station safely to perform maintenance and other work during the winter period.
“We know how important services on the Far North Line are to local residents, tourism, and the wider community in areas like Altnabreac where public transport options are limited."
Ian Budd, convener of the Friends of the Far North Line said it was important to have a quick resolution.
He added: "The Far North Line provides a wonderful opportunity to travel to beautiful and remote locations, as well as providing an essential service to this part of Scotland.”
'Most mysterious'
Local Highland councillor Raymond Bremner the suspension of services was regrettable.
He said: "I've used the station a number of times over the years and it is an important access for one of the most remote areas of Caithness and one that is of historical importance.
“I would hope that this matter can be resolved quickly and speedily so that the communities of this area of Caithness and visitors to the area will once again be able to have unrestricted access to it."
Digital ticketing website Trainline describes Altnabreac as "possibly Scotland's most mysterious and most isolated train station".
Trainline said the station opened in 1874 before any sources of potential business were created.
A hunting lodge was built nearby in the 1890s.
Visiting walkers are among those who use the station today.
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