GTE

Current Information Regarding:

Rails To Grantown-On-Spey (RTG)

Prepared 8th November 2018

John A Yule, Chairman Strathspey Railway Charitable Trust

2

The Legacy

3

Bridge over Dulnain River
North of Broomhill Station

4

Tracks Laid to End of Bridge

5

Track bed North From Bridge

6

Planned Realignm7ent & Crossing

The Removed Railway Crossing & ‘Non-
Trunked’ Part of the A95 at Gaich

8

Glengynack Corner (A95 Gaich) RTA’s

Glengynack Corner (ONLY) Stats:
Fatal = 0

Serious Injury = 2
Slight Injury = 3
Damage Only = 4
Source – Police Scotland Aviemore

9

Station Site Option A (close to GoS Centre)

10

Station Exit/Entrance - Road Leads
Straight Into GoS Town Square

11

Plans for Option A

12

Option A

13

Strathspey Railway Overview

Projected and Actual Passenger Figures:

2009 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 Pre RTG Post RTG

H&IE BP 2009: 44,000 50,000 56,000 60,000 58,000
Projection @2010

EIA for H&IE: 100,000 130,000
Projection @ 2015

Actual 40,000 58,000 71,400 80,000
(est)

● Without question the Railway is growing & that growth is accelerating
● Actual Passenger figures consistently WELL above projections
● 40 Years of continuous public operations since 22/07/178
● Operating at approx. 20% of Capacity - we have room to grow
● >20 FTE Employees.
● c100 Active Volunteers (worth £400k/annum)
● Strathspey Railway Turnover c£1m & All Profit reinvested
● We operate with ZERO Public Capital or Revenue Gap Funding

Annual Steam Santa Specials

• 20 Trains over 5 weekends in Nov/Dec
• Two Trains per day Saturday & Sunday
• Some trains sold out online within days
• An annual pilgrimage for families, many

travelling >100miles & staying in area

c5000 passengers comprising
c2000 families or groups visiting &/or staying in

Aviemore during a potentially quiet season!

Closure of Funicular means SR will play an even
more vital local economic role this winter!

Transport & Works Act Order Scotland (TAWS)

Intended Scope:
• Provides Powers to Build & Operate a Railway between

Broomhill Station & New Station in Grantown-on-Spey
• Ditto. Alterations to A95 Trunk Road at Gaich, the Rail

Underbridge, associated infrastructure and any Land
Compulsory Purchases for Road
• A Joint TS & SRCT Submission (i.e. Road & Rail)
Required Contents:
• TAWS Documentation
• Supporting MOU, Funding Plan & EIS
• Supporting Drawings & Surveys
Current Timeline:
• Pre-Application by Q1 2019 to SG (TAWS Unit) for
Scottish Ministers comment
• Uncertain Outcome – A Very Complex & Inappropriate
Process for a c£1m T/O Not-For-Profit Heritage Railway

MOU – SG/TS & SRCT

Scope: (signed 10/10/17)
• 4.8km new Railway Track & GoS Station
• A95 Gaich Alterations & Rail Underbridge
• Not legally binding (that may be required later)
SRCT Undertake:
• Obtain Scottish Minister sign-off of the TAWS
• Contribute circa £2m toward Underbridge
• Design, fund & Construct UG Farm Access
• Reinstate Railway and a Station in GoS
TS Undertake:
• (If TAWS Sign-off & RA Budget allocation)

Build the A95 Road Works & Underbridge

RTG Project Costs & Funding

c£10m - Total Road & Rail Project Cost =
c£ 5m - SG Road, Bridge etc. Funding
c£ 2m - SRCT Contribution to Bridge
c£ 2m - SRCT Funding for Station, Track, etc.
c£ 1m - SRCT Contributions in Kind for ditto.
TS Budget Cycle Timeline – 4-6 years from Approval of
TAWS, Therefore Unlikely to Start Before 2023
TAWS SG Approval Unlikely Without c£2m SRCT
contribution for A95 Gaich Bridge in Place/Committed
Without an Approved TAWS We Lack Credibility & Cannot
Raise the £2m Bridge Contribution Funding
Catch 22!!!!
We Need Scottish Government & HIE Help to Unlock This

Post RTG Benefits @ 2015 EIA

On site/Within Railway:
• From c21 to 44 FTE post RTG
Offsite Net Passenger Spend Locally:
• From £1.8m to £3.1m post RTG
Offsite Non Railway Local Employment:
• 13.9 > 26.4 FTE post RTG
Overall impact from EIA:
• 31.5 FTE & £1.25m Local Spend
• +30,000 Additional SR Passengers
• +Additional local/CNP/Highlands/Scottish visitor

activity & enhanced outdoor attraction
In Addition:
• Rail Network connection via Aviemore Station
• Potential for Franchised Rail Services to GoS
• Accident Reduction on Non-Trunked Section of A95

RTG Infrastructure Status

2014 & 2015:
• Dulnain River bridged & rails laid over

2018/19 Planned:
• Fencing & Track Vegetation Clearance to

Track bed near GoS

2019 Planned (Subject to Funding):
• Create a Visible ‘Flag on the Ground’ to

Demonstrate RTG Intent with Project Signage
• Glenbeg Bridge Waterproofing & Maintenance
• First Post Dulnain Bridge Trackwork

Community Links & Support

Trustees include:
Former Highland Councillor, HIE & CNPA Board
Member; Grantown CC Member; Chair Grantown BA
& Grantown Initiative; Grantown Retailer; Local & Park
Residents – RTG is Grantown Initiative’s ‘Top Priority’
and fully supported by Grantown Business Association
& Community Council
Advisors include: GoS based VABS CO
Recent 2018 Engagements: CBP, CNPA, MP Drew
Hendry, The Highland Council (Local Wards), Cabinet
Secretary & MSP Fergus Ewing – All demonstrated
clear & strong support for RTG
Next: Transport Scotland with CS MSP Fergus Ewing
Requested: A Strategic Engagement with HIE