West Highland railway line to close in November for £13m upgrade

The West Highland Line is due to close for nine days in November for a £13m upgrade.

The scenic railway line, linking Glasgow to destinations including Oban and Mallaig, features the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct seen in the Harry Potter films.

Network Rail will carry out work at locations between Helensburgh, Fort William and Mallaig.

It said the work would tackle wear and tear, make the route more resilient in periods of severe weather and reduce the risk of delays and restrictions.

Buses will replace trains between Crianlarich and Fort William/Mallaig from 9 to 17 November.

Network Rail and train operators said they were working together to support local communities and passengers.

Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director at Network Rail Scotland, said: "This work is about making sure the route continues to provide a dependable service for the communities and visitors who use it every day.

"We know closing the line isn't ideal at any time, but it gives us the opportunity to carry out a large amount of work in one go, rather than causing repeated disruption over a longer period."