Network Rail is to invest £4.5 million on improving a Scottish railway which Dr Beeching had wanted to close more than 60 years ago.

Work to replace 7km of worn track on the Kyle of Lochalsh line between Achnashellach and Strathcarron is scheduled for three weeks between 19 October and 10 November, and the line will be closed beyond Dingwall. Rail replacement buses will run.

While the line is closed engineers will inspect structures like bridges and culverts, and ditches and drainage channels will be cleared in a bid to prevent flooding.

Network Rail route director Ross Moran said: ‘The Kyle line is a much-loved part of Scotland’s rail heritage, and few routes offer such scenic views of our landscape. This investment will help safeguard its future, ensuring it remains a reliable, sustainable travel option for both local communities and visitors for many more generations to come.

‘We recognise that any closure of the railway causes disruption and want to thank passengers and lineside neighbours for their patience and support. This short-term inconvenience will bring long-term benefits as we look forward to smoother journeys and a more dependable rail service.’

The service between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh was listed in Beeching’s ‘Reshaping’ report of March 1963, but the Kyle line was one of several north of the border which the government refused to scrap. The Far North Line from Inverness to Wick and Thurso was also reprieved.

In 1984, the Kyle line became the first to use Radio Electronic Token Block Signalling.

What do you think? Click here to let us know.