Engineers will deliver a £9m programme of upgrades and repairs on the Kyle line and at Inverness station later this year, requiring a three-week suspension of services between Dingwall and Kyle of Lochalsh.

The Highlands route, which serves local communities and attracts thousands of visitors annually, will be shut to allow a substantial package of works to be completed in a single blockade, helping to minimise future disruption and improve reliability.

At Inverness station, teams will renew track and sleepers at platforms 5 and 6 and refurbish the equipment that enables trains to move between different tracks, improving performance and keeping services running smoothly.

Around 7km of track will be renewed at several locations, including between Welsh's Bridge and Rose Street level crossing in Inverness, at Achanalt and Rosebank near Achnasheen, and between Strathcarron and Stromeferry, delivering a smoother and more dependable ride for passengers.

Drainage resilience will be strengthened through the renewal of multiple culverts between Dingwall, Achnasheen and Stromeferry to help mitigate the effects of severe weather on the line.

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Structural repairs and associated track renewals will also take place at a number of bridges, including Carron Viaduct, to maintain a safe and reliable railway for years to come.

To carry out the work safely and efficiently, no trains will operate between Dingwall and Kyle of Lochalsh from Saturday 28 November to Friday 18 December inclusive, with services restarting on Saturday 19 December. Network Rail and train operators are coordinating plans to support local communities and passengers during the closure.

Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director at Network Rail Scotland, said: "The Kyle line is one of Scotland's most scenic and important routes, connecting communities across the Highlands. This £9m investment will allow us to carry out a significant amount of work in a short period of time, helping us keep the railway safe, reliable and resilient for the future.

"We know that closing the line will cause disruption and we're sorry for the inconvenience. By bringing together a wide range of upgrades and repairs during one closure, we can complete this work as efficiently as possible and reduce the need for future unplanned disruption. We'd like to thank passengers, communities and businesses along the route for their patience and understanding while we deliver these essential improvements."

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said: "When our colleagues at Network Rail deliver this project to improve the long-term reliability of the railway between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, our priority will be to keep customers moving and ensuring they can continue to travel with confidence.

"We know how important the Kyle line is to the communities it serves, so we'll have a rail replacement plan in place to ensure customers can still travel reliably throughout the works.

"We're grateful to customers for their patience and understanding when this vital work takes place and look forward to welcoming them back on the line when the work is complete."