Inverness Rapid Transit (IRT)

History: The first line, the Aliture Line, started operations from Inverness airport (Railway station) to Craftneriech. Services ran above ground on existing national rail routes the majority of the time. This part of the line opened in 1999 operated by pacer trains. In 2007, the next line, the Beauly & City line started operations from Beauly to Inverness Railway station entirely using existing track. The orginal underground Inverness Railway station, was renamed to Harbour Road, with the exit closed unless in an emergency. There was now an underpass linking the two stations. In 2012, Clachnaharry High Street and Clachnahary stations were linked as well as Ness and Ness Bridge being renamed to Ness overground and underground, linked by 5 sets of stairs. In 2015, the newest line, the Longman line started operations from Inverness Railway station to University Street. This line used some existing overground track, but mainly used new underground tunnels. In 2017, IRT ordered X10 3 car and X7 3 car Class 195s to replace the aging pacers. In 2020, the trains arrived completely phasing out all the pacers. Sadly, they were only in service for 3 weeks before the Covid-19 Pandemic. When the 2nd Lockdown ended in February, work on 2 extensions began, with one to Inverness Airport (Terminal) having direct access to the terminal, unlike the railway station. The other was a loop on the Longman line, with new underground platforms at Harbour Road station, before rejoining the overground tracks at Raigmore Junction. 1/4 of trains in each direction per hour would start from Inverness Railway station, and another 1/4 ending at Raigmore Junction, to turn around and terminate at Inverness railway station, with a few in evenings terminating at Inverness Railway station after turning around. In November 2021, the network re-opened after a year of re-training and training new and old drivers. Later that month, both extensions opened. In August 2024, all the Class 195s were taken out of service 3 or 4 at a time to be refurbished. Future: In 2024, plans for electrification of the Aliture Line and later on the Longman Line were accepted by the Inverness Council. An order for X6 3 car Class 730s was placed. Electrification began in 2025 October, closing the entire Aliture Line and heavily disrupting LNER and Scotrail services for 2 months. The Class 730s arrived in January 2026, entering service in March. All the Class 195s went to other lines, replacing all the 2 car trains across the network. In June 2026, platform extensions at a few Aliture line stations began, in order for 6 car units (3+3) to be used in rush hour services. 1 double unit entered service in July 2026. In August 2026, plans for electrifying the Longman Line were scrapped until the next decade. Instead, the money would be used to refurbish all Aliture Line and Beauly & City Line stations as they were ageing.