From 1st April, extra carriages and cycle spaces are being added to ScotRail's Highland Explorer service and the supplementary fare is being removed.
The additional fare to use the Highland Explorer service on the Mallaig branch of the West Highland Line is to be removed, whilst more carriages and an additional 20 cycle spaces are being added to the service to provide more seats and enhanced on-board facilities for customers.
From the start of the summer timetable at the end of March, two services each day will have the carriages. An early morning service will operate from Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street on Tuesdays to Saturdays and an evening service from Glasgow Queen Street to Mallaig will run on Mondays to Fridays. The Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street early morning service will call at Fort William during the morning peak to provide more seats for commuters.
As well as benefitting cyclists, the changes will benefit local communities as the extra carriages will provide 15 per cent more seats, more luggage space, and access to an additional toilet.
The Highland Explorer carriages feature larger, cushioned seats, USB and plug charging points, maps incorporated in tables detailing the route with recommendations on where to walk, cycle, and visit. Also, each table has QR codes that provide links to suggestions for other places to visit in Scotland.
The additional charge that was previously added to Highland Explorer tickets is being removed from 1st April 2023, meaning that passengers using the will have access to the active travel carriage without needing to pay a £10 supplement.
As the supplementary charge is being withdrawn, from next Thursday, 9th February, the £10 Highland Explorer ticket for travel on 1 April onwards will also be withdrawn and all seats within the carriage will be available at the standard class fare. Previously, the supplement charged for Highland Explorer tickets provided customers with guaranteed access to the carriage and a hospitality service when it was available.
ScotRail has not yet finalised the procedures for making seat reservations on the services from 1st April onwards, but will make the details available as soon as possible.
Lesley Kane, ScotRail Commercial Director, said: “Our Highland Explorer carriages were the first of their kind in the UK, and can accommodate up to 20 cycles, allowing more people before to enjoy the iconic scenery the West Highland Line has to offer.
“The changes we're making, by removing the additional fare for our Highland Explorer service and by introducing the carriages to the Mallaig line, proves that we've been listening to feedback from both customers and stakeholders on how make the most of these fantastic carriages and deliver the best service possible.
“Customers will benefit from more seats as the whole train will be accessible for the price of a standard class ticket, and customers will no longer have to pay an additional charge to sit with their bikes.
“These changes will help make the service a more attractive option, as well as support active travel and our continued recovery from the pandemic.”
Karen McGregor, Scotland Director at Sustrans, added: “The Highland Explorer services have already shown the positive impact of public transport and active travel working hand in hand.
“From families planning days out on traffic-free National Cycle Network routes to experienced cyclists setting off along the iconic Caledonia Way, the Highland Explorer carriages make it easier to leave the car at home and experience the stunning west coast by foot or by bike.
“We're delighted to see more, sustainable travel options created for joined-up everyday journeys, and for everyone hoping to enjoy some of Scotland's most famous walking, wheeling and cycling routes.”
John Barnes, Vice-President Friends of the West Highland Lines, said: “It is good news that the 153 carriages are now planned to provide a service north of Crianlarich over Rannoch Moor and onward to Fort William and Mallaig.
“It is important that the Outdoor Capital of the UK is served by these carriages, and we hope to be seeing them on even more trains in the future.
“Both Friends of the West Highland Lines and the West Highland Community Rail Partnership have raised our concerns about the Highland Explorer surcharge for some time, so we are delighted that it will now be removed.”
