Rail bosses have unveiled plans for a £3million facelift of Inverness station – and pledged to invest millions more in faster trains and more punctual services.
The Station Square regeneration proposals were revealed yesterday by leaders of Dutch rail operator Abellio, which is due to take over Scotrail services from FirstGroup on April 1.
The firm, an offshoot of Dutch national railways, said it wanted to work with Highland Council to spruce up the area which has been earmarked as part of plans to improve the shopping and visitor experience in Academy Street.
The pledge came as business leaders raised concerns about three major projects which threaten to turn much of the city-centre into a giant construction yard.
The Town House is about to be encased in steel as major repairs begin, council offices in Church Street are undergoing a facelift, and work on the flood prevention scheme is getting under way again in Bank Street.
Abellio bosses were in Inverness yesterday for talks with locals and promised a feasibility study on the redevelopment of the station and Station Square.
Work on the scheme could begin as early as March 2016.
More than 50 rail users, politicians, council representatives and business people gathered at the Royal Highland Hotel to meet the new operators as guests of Hitrans, the regional transport partnership for the north and west of Scotland.
Councillor Tomas Prag, vice-chairman of Hitrans and chairman of the Highland planning, development and infrastructure committee, said rail-users and the wider community could look forward to a much improved station and surrounding area.
“This seems to be the right time for the Abellio takeover with the new franchisee and Highland Council very keen to improve the cityscape in the surrounding area,” he said.
“With Highland Council, Hitrans, Abellio and Network Rail in this together, the chances of doing something are increased 200%. It might be part of the wider city deal for improving the Academy Street area.
“We have always felt that the station is something you go to if you have to. It is not very pleasant going into the building and it does not lend itself to anything, and then you have all the taxis turning outside and coming up the side of the station and the Eastgate side entrance is not great.
“The station works just now but it is not a pleasant experience.”
Mike Kean, Abellio’s UK rail business development director, said: “A cost of £2million to £3million is what we have thought about for what Inverness needs. I want it to be bigger and we can work with our partners on this.”
Key areas for improvement could include the entrances to the station from Falcon Square and the Eastgate, the parking area in Station Square, and the general quality of the station interior.
Academy Street has been regarded as increasingly run down and dilapidated for years, but there are high hopes that the multimillion-pound regeneration plans will bring the street back to its former glory and attract more businesses and visitors.
The Townscape Heritage Scheme is aiming toaround £4million in the pot for the regeneration.
The five-year project has identified three priority projects – Station Square, the AI Welders building, and the Phoenix Alehouse upper floors.
Project officer Lorna Maclennan said there was a “real desire and commitment” to making the initiative a success.
She said: “It will become a catalyst for the city.”