BAM has been awarded a £170m contract to upgrade the railway line between Aberdeen and Inverness.

The project, funded by the Scottish Government, will introduce a half-hourly commuter service between Aberdeen and Inverurie, along with additional peak services between Inverness and Elgin.

The project is due for completion in 2019.

Over the next four years, BAM will:

• Double-track 16 miles of line between Aberdeen and Inverurie.

• Build a new station at Forres and straighten the railway alignment.

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• Extend platforms at Insch and Elgin to accommodate longer trains.

• Upgrade signalling systems along the route.

• Install infrastructure to allow new stations to be built at Dalcross and Kintore.

Engineers are now carrying out ground investigation, site survey and vegetation clearance works on the line as part of the project, while main construction works are due to begin in spring 2016.

Plans for new stations at Dalcross and Kintore are being developed separately by HITRANS and NESTRANS, while a further phase of the Aberdeen-Inverness Improvements Project is to be developed.

Jerry Dickson, Framework Director for BAM, said: "Together with our partners AECOM, CH2M, Stobart Rail and Siemens, we are looking forward to commencing work on the Aberdeen to Inverness Enhancement Programme.

"This essential programme of works will improve connectivity between the major cities of Aberdeen and Inverness, with wider enhancements for the local communities in the north of Scotland."

(LM/CD)