Work has started on building a new station at Dalcross to serve Inverness Airport.
The two-platform station will cost £14m. It is adjacent to Inverness airport on the Aberdeen-Inverness line will benefit from step-free access via a footbridge with lifts. Completion is scheduled for December 2022
There will be 64 car parking spaces, with ten electric charging points, four disabled spaces and cycle parking. To provide access to the station, a new access road will be built for motorists, and to provide access to both platforms for pedestrians and cyclists.
Construction of the station platforms has already started. Further work planned from now until the end of December includes building embankments, concrete lift shafts, and footbridge foundations.
Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) has significantly upgraded the existing path between the new station and the airport terminal. There will initially be two buses an hour between the station and the airport.
Along with the new station development, the level crossing at Petty will be closed, which will improve the safety of the line and operation of the new station.
Graeme Dey, Minister for Transport, said: “It is great to see work getting underway on what will be an exciting development both for Inverness Airport and for the surrounding communities.
“The start of work on-site is a significant step towards delivery of this sustainable travel interchange, which has been made possible by a £14 million Scottish Government investment as part of our commitment to a fairer, greener Scotland.
“By making Inverness Airport more accessible for passengers and staff alike, we can deliver improved travel links to the growing Inverness Airport Business Park and the new town of Tornagrain. This is particularly important as we continue to pursue a green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland's Railway, said: “Scotland's Railway has a great record of opening new stations and new lines, which help to drive further investment in communities and create new opportunities for local people.
“The construction of the new Inverness Airport station will help enhance the area by giving travellers another route to the airport and will open up transport links and improve connectivity.”
“We are committed to working alongside the Scottish Government to open up our railway to as many communities as possible across Scotland and look forward to welcoming this new station onto the network.”
“This is an exciting project that has the potential to transform travel options to the airport – and getting on site to start the build is a significant milestone in the progression of the project. We will work with our partners to deliver this new station as quickly as possible for our customers and the wider community.”
Councillor Trish Robertson, Highland Councils Strategic Chair, said “The Council has provided over £100K towards the cost of this project, which will deliver significant benefits to the Inverness community, improving access to the airport and making the area more attractive for inward investment and housing growth, which will both support local communities and the economy.”
“I look forward to seeing the works progress rapidly.”
Network Rail is encouraging anyone with any questions about the project to email: InvernessAirportStation@networkrail.co.uk.
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Perhaps it should be called Inverness Airport Parkway station just like Liverpool South Parkway and Luton Airport Parkway that serves the airport nearby and serves local areas with buses.
It looks as though there is a stretch of road from the new station to the nearest settlement, Culaird, with no footway (beyond is a foot / cycle connection to Croy). I hope that addressing the provision alongside carriageway for walking, is somewhere in the plans