Landslide Stops Plockton Rail Service
1 December 2001	ScotRail estimated February or March 2002 before service resumes
Repairs continue on the track beside Loch Carron and will not be completed before February or March of 2002, say ScotRail.
The landslides of 29 October, which almost derailed a train, and closed the road between Strathcarron and Achmore for a week, are no new occurrence. The road has been called 'the most dangerous in Scotland', and, as before, action is being called for.
One option is to build a new road through Glen Udalain, above the slipping cliffs; this is being priced at £16 million and will face opposition from the landowner. Another option, backed by local MP Charles Kennedy (Lib Dem), is to build a bridge across the Strome Narrows, up to £30 million. Neither of these options will see light for years, if they ever do, so in the meantime, contingency plans are being made to resurrect the Strome Ferry on a temporary basis, if another closure is forced. The Glenelg–Kylerhea ferry has been used for tests.
ScotRail are calling for emergency funds to be made available, to secure safety on the route. One of their options is to move the track further into the loch on a causeway, but this proposal was rejected as unfeasible some years back, because the seabed was too soft.
Update: 13 March 2002  Work is underway on moving the track into the loch. Completion date is now said to be 'late Spring'.
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