Travel outwith Moray:- Inverness Airport railway station officially opens
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Inverness Airport rail station was officially opened on Thursday, with the first passengers on the platform today.
The station was unveiled by Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth,
The walk between the station and the airport terminal takes around 12 minutes, or people can catch a Stagecoach bus.
Ms Gilruth said: "Today is very exciting, as the last time I was here in March 2022 it was basically a building site.
"I am absolutely astounded to see the change, and it is fantastic to witness the station come to life.
"There is a real buzz about the place. I think it is going to represent a lot to the local community in terms of connectivity."
The new station includes a new 950 metre-passing loop which will allow trains on the single line to pass in the opposite direction.
John Yellowlees, who is an honorary rail ambassador for Scotrail travelled north from Edinburgh for the occasion.
He said: "There are also not many airports in Scotland that have their very own station. Inverness Airport has moved into the top league.
"It's also important to realise that this is also for Tornagrain and Inverness Business Park so it is multi-purpose."
Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: "It's always excellent to see the rail network expand.
"We have invested £42million in the new station, in the track and in the signalling works so we can operate more services more reliably."
However, there have been mixed reactions about the opening, as the station is around half a mile from Inverness Airport.
Highland Conservative MSP Edward Mountain said: "While I welcome this investment in the Highlands, it will not deliver what passengers really want – a fully-integrated transport hub.
"What we now have is a station on the wrong side of the airport terminal and also too far away from Tornagrain.
"This repeats the same mistake that was made with the locating of Dyce Railway Station.
"Passengers won’t just walk to the terminal with their suitcases in cold, dark and often wet conditions any more than government ministers would."
