Current Information Regarding:

Rails To Grantown-On-Spey (RTG)

Prepared 8th November 2018

John A Yule, Chairman Strathspey Railway Charitable Trust

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The Legacy

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Bridge over Dulnain River

North of Broomhill Station

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Tracks Laid to End of Bridge

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Track bed North From Bridge

7Planned Realignment & Crossing

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The Removed Railway Crossing & ‘Non-

Trunked’ Part of the A95 at Gaich

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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

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Station Site Option A (close to GoS Centre)

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Station Exit/Entrance - Road Leads

Straight Into GoS Town Square

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Plans for Option A

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Option A

Strathspey Railway Overview

● 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

Projected and Actual Passenger Figures:

2009 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 Pre RTG Post RTG

H&IE BP 2009:

Projection @201044,000 50,000 56,000 60,000 58,000

EIA for H&IE:

Projection @ 2015100,000 130,000

Actual 40,000 58,000 71,40080,000

(est)

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 & Fundingc£10m - Total Road & Rail Project Cost =c£ 5m - SG Road, Bridge etc. Fundingc£ 2m - SRCT Contribution to Bridgec£ 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 EIAOn site/Within Railway:• From c21 to 44 FTE post RTG Offsite Net Passenger Spend Locally:• From £1.8m to £3.1m post RTGOffsite 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 & SupportTrustees 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 CouncilAdvisors include: GoS based VABS CO

Recent 2018 Engagements: CBP, CNPA, MP Drew Hendry, The Highland Council (Local Wards), Cabinet Secretary & MSP Fergus Ewing – All demonstratedclear & strong support for RTG

Next: Transport Scotland with CS MSP Fergus Ewing

Requested: A Strategic Engagement with HIE