WATCH: 'Ambitious' bid to improve station platforms across Caithness and Sutherland
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Railway stations in Caithness and Sutherland are on track to have tactile paving installed this year.
The paving allows visually impaired people know when they are close to the platform edge.
Network Rail has begun work on installing the slabs at 148 stations across Scotland's railway, which it says will make it more accessible.
That includes work scheduled at Wick, Thurso, Scotscalder, Altnabreac, Forsinard, Kinbrace, Kildonan, Brora and Dunrobin Castle.
Over 38 kilometres of raised, tactile paving slabs – a total of 95,000 individual slabs – will be installed across 250 platforms at the stations to improve safety and allow more people to travel independently.
Network Rail says its engineers have devised ambitious plans to complete these works within the next 12 months, working closely with ScotRail, who manage the stations.
The project will mean that all of Scotland’s 362 stations will have tactile paving on their platform edges.
Work on the project is already complete at Bellgrove, Balloch, Renton, Alexandria, Newtonmore, Dalwhinnie, High Street (Glasgow) and Baillieston.
Other stations where work is planned this year include Ayr, Kilpatrick, Shettleston, Carntyne, Pollokshields East, Girvan, Barrhill, Drem, Glasgow Central low level, Aberdeen, Stranraer, Newton-on-Ayr, Longniddry and Prestwick.
Tactile paving has a textured surface, which helps visually impaired passengers know when they are close to the platform edge, improving safety and giving more people the confidence to travel by train independently.
Liam Sumpter, route director for Scotland’s Railway, said: “We know that many people rely on tactile paving to use the railway independently, so I’m really pleased we’ve been able to develop an ambitious 12-month plan to complete the roll-out of this project.
“Scotland’s Railway is for everyone, and this work will make rail services more accessible for our visually impaired customers.”
David Lister, ScotRail safety, engineering and sustainability director, said: “ScotRail is dedicated to making sure that everyone who uses Scotland’s Railway has equal access, and tactile paving plays a big part in helping our blind and visually impaired customers travel safely and independently.
“By working with Network Rail to have tactile paving installed at all ScotRail stations, it will help to ensure all rail users can travel with confidence.”
