Network Rail will begin a £9 million programme at Inverness station and along the Kyle line in a month's time, designed to keep the route safe and dependable.

The line, which connects Highland communities and draws thousands of visitors each year, will shut for three weeks to allow the works to be carried out. The closure runs from Saturday 28 November to Friday 18 December inclusive, with services between Dingwall and Kyle of Lochalsh restarting on Saturday 19 December.

During the three-week blockade, engineers will deliver a package of renewals, repairs and maintenance:

- At Inverness station, track and sleepers at platforms 5 and 6 will be renewed, and equipment that lets trains move between different tracks will be refurbished to improve reliability.

- 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.

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- Drainage will be improved through the renewal of several culverts between Dingwall, Achnasheen and Stromeferry, reducing the impact of adverse weather.

- Structural repairs and track renewals will take place at multiple railway bridges, including Carron Viaduct.

Network Rail and ScotRail are working together to support passengers during the closure. Replacement buses will operate between Inverness and Dingwall, with amended train services running from Dingwall to Invergordon, Tain, Thurso and Wick.

Gary Hopkirk, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: "The Kyle line is an important connection for communities and the many visitors who use it each year, so we know there is never an ideal time to close it.

"This three-week closure gives us the opportunity to complete a significant amount of work in one go, helping to keep the railway safe and reliable for years to come.

"We're asking passengers to plan ahead and check their journey before travelling, and we thank everyone for their patience while we complete these improvements."

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: "While 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."