Transport Minister visits site of new Inverness Airport station

Scotland Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth has visited the site of the £14m Inverness Airport station, to see at first-hand the progress that has been made.

A two-platform station with a passing-loop is being built on the Aberdeen-Inverness line. Both platforms will have step-free access via a footbridge and lift. Completion is scheduled for December 2022.

There will be a new access road to the station for motorists and access to both platforms for pedestrians and cyclists. A car park will have spaces for 64 cars, 10 electric charging facilities, four disabled spaces, and cycle parking.

Scotland Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth at the site of the new Inverness Airport station. Credit: Network Rail.

The existing route between the new station and the airport has been upgraded, and two buses an hour will initially link the station and the terminal.

Main construction work on the new platforms is well underway, and now starting on the concrete lift shafts and footbridge foundations. Creation of the access roads and car park will follow.

As part of the development, the level crossing at Petty has been closed, which will improve the safety of the line and the operation of the station.

The new station will help enhance the area by giving travellers another route to the airport, as well as opening-up local transport links including to the new town of Tornagrain and the growing Inverness Airport Business Park.

Inverness airport aerial 3 — Aerial view of the new Inverness Airport station. Credit: Network Rail.

Jenny Gilruth, Minister for Transport, said: “I have been keeping up to date with the work at Inverness Airport station, but it was good to have the opportunity to go on-site, meet the team and see first-hand the work that has been happening on the project since work began in October 2021.

“Providing easy local access to the Aberdeen to Inverness services will make this area more attractive for inward investment and housing growth, which will both support local communities and the wider economy.”

Kris Kinnear, Network Rail’s capital delivery director said: “The new fully accessible station will improve social and economic opportunities for people in Inverness and the surrounding communities and we will work hard to deliver the new facility for the area as quickly as possible.

“We appreciate that given the scale of the work, it is not without some disruption, but It is an exciting development that has the potential to transform life for local people and the communities it will serve.”