One of Britain's most scenic railway lines is receiving £13 million worth of improvements, with Network Rail beginning nine days of major engineering work on Scotland's West Highland Line.
More than 4km of track will be renewed, alongside drainage improvements, bridge maintenance and vegetation clearance at various locations between Helensburgh, Fort William and Mallaig.
The work includes track renewals near Arisaig and Corrour, along with sections through the Loch nan Uamh and Beasdale tunnels. Improvements to drainage around Glen Douglas and Arrochar & Tarbet are also planned.
Buses will replace trains between Crianlarich and Fort William/Mallaig from 9 to 17 November 2026, although there will be no replacement bus services at Rannoch or Corrour.
You can read more about the engineering programme in Network Rail's announcement.
Over 130 Years of Railway History
The West Highland Line opened between Craigendoran and Fort William in 1894, with the extension to Mallaig following in 1901.
Originally built to connect remote Highland communities and support industries such as fishing, the railway has become one of Britain's most popular scenic routes.
For railway enthusiasts, the line is perhaps best remembered for its Class 37 diesel locomotives, which spent many years hauling passenger and freight services through the Highlands.
Fortunately, plenty of enthusiasts were out recording these workings.
A video filmed in May 1996 features a Transrail Class 37/4 hauling the Fort William sleeper, while "West Highland FREIGHT" in 1997 captures several Class 37s working between Crianlarich and Fort William, including shunting movements at Fort William Yard.
There's also some interesting footage from June 2000, featuring Class 37s and steam operations around Glenfinnan.
These recordings provide a fascinating look at railway operations that have changed considerably over the years.
The West Highland Line Today
Today, the railway continues to connect communities across the Highlands while attracting visitors from around the world.
The Fort William to Mallaig section is particularly famous for its steam services, with Glenfinnan Viaduct becoming one of Britain's most recognisable railway landmarks.
In September 2014, K1 steam locomotive 62005 was filmed working The Jacobite, while a journey filmed in May 2021 shows the route from Glasgow to Mallaig aboard a ScotRail Class 156.
Maintaining a railway through such remote and exposed countryside presents considerable challenges, making investment in its infrastructure particularly important.
You can explore more West Highland Line videos on Fishplate, including historical freight workings, steam specials and modern passenger services.
With more than 130 years of history behind it, the latest improvements should help keep this remarkable railway operating for years to come.
