HIGHLAND OIL REGAINED

Back on rail: No 56302 and a load of 12 TTA tanks leaving Grangemouth with the first of the trial services at the start of its journey to Fort William on 2 July 2017.
Ian Lothian

COLAS HAS started a three-month trial period operating the Highland oil traffic that was lost to road recently (p19, May issue), following a vigorous campaign by local authorities and others dismayed by the prospect of over 400 extra lorry trips a year on local roads. The trial covers the flows from Grangemouth over the West Highland line to Fort William and the Far North line to Lairg, that were operated by DB Cargo until their demise in March. Colas initially plans to use a Class 56 or maybe even a Class 37.

The first train ran on Sunday 2 July, running as a 14.20 Grangemouth Oil Terminal to Fort William.