Transport

Speed restrictions will be in force on all Highland lines until 9am on Christmas Eve amid ongoing Met Office weather warnings.

The alert for wind is one of two new warnings issued. Heavy rain is also being forecast on Saturday, with the gales on Sunday into Christmas Day.

ScotRail has announced there will be rail replacement buses in operation today as train services between Wick and Inverness remain suspended.

More misery is in store today for train travellers on the Far North Line with services expected to remain suspended after severe weather.

Transport Scotland has confirmed the fares increase it will put in place for 2024.

The Met Office is forecasting up to 15cm in parts of the Highlands overnight Friday into Saturday as people prepare to travel for Christmas.

Seven train services between Inverness and Glasgow have been cancelled today as Storm Pia batters Scotland.

Services will be suspended on Thursday on the Far North and Kyle lines, as well as between Inverness and Inverurie.

Strong westerly winds have been playing havoc with CalMac ferry sailings from west coast ports including Ullapool and Stornoway.

Transport secretary Mairi McAllan is currently delivering a statement on the renewed programme.

Over nine months after plans for a "rapid road repair team" to tackle potholes were announced by Highland Council, no appointments have been made.

A woman is in a critical condition and a man was left with serious injuries after a crash on the A9 near Invergordon on Tuesday.

The cabinet secretary for transport Mairi McAllan is expected to deliver the ministerial statement to Holyrood.

Civil servants warned the transport secretary in 2018 that '2025 deadline would not be met' if it was privately financed.

Train passengers in the Highlands are being warned of potential disruption due to severe weather.

Campaigner Laura Hansler says the government ‘knew they could never deliver and they refused at every turn to give the electorate the truth.’

Highland rail passengers have been warned to expect possible disruption after speed restrictions were announced following an amber weather alert.

Torrential rain could bring up to 200mm of precipitation this weekend and may trigger landslides, the Met Office has warned.

Cabinet papers show the earliest completion dates were 2032 for private finance and 2034 for traditional capital finance.

As much as 175mm of rain could fall in places this weekend, the Met Office has warned after it issued a yellow alert for large areas of the Highlands.