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Introducion

The lines North and West of Inverness are controlled from a single workstation in Inverness Signalling Centre.

The Dingwall to Kyle line was the first to use Radio Electronic Token Block Signalling (RETB), being launched on 6 July 1984. The Far North Line to Wick and Thurso was converted to RETB in December 1985.

These routes were initially controlled from Dingwall, and it was intended that the Inverness resignalling scheme would included the Inverness - Dingwall section. However RETB was extended to Inverness with control moved to the new Inverness Signalling Centre in August 1988.

Inverness

This page describes the track layout and RETB signalling on these lines. Stations are shown in bold type.

RETB Signalling: Inverness - Wick

Controlled by Inverness Signalling Centre (RETB workstation)

Trains can enter the RETB system and obtain a token anywhere in the Inverness TCB area. Authority to proceed towards Clunes will be the clearing of the appropriate signal (I427 or I429) at the entry to the single line.

Clachnaharry's Down signal CY2 will only clear to green when an appropriate RETB token is issued.

Location	Mileage	Radio  Channel	Signalling	Remarks
Inverness Station	00mi 02ch	102	TCB (Inverness SC)	Terminus. Platforms 5, 6 and 7 for the North.
Rose Street Jn	00mi 19ch			Connection from 'Rose Street Curve', avoiding station.
	00mi 32ch		Down Signals I427, I429	Entry to the Single line
Ness Viaduct	00mi 41ch
	00mi 47ch		Up Signal I430	End of Radio Token Working (Up direction)
	01mi 12ch		Down Signal CY2	Start of Radio Token Working (Down direction)
Clachnaharry Canal Bridge	01mi 45ch			Clachnaharry Bridge Box, controls Swing bridge and protecting signals
	01mi 68ch		Up Signal CY1
Bunchrew LC	03mi 58ch		AOCL+B
Clunes IB	07mi 51ch	102	TEP-i
Beauly	10mi 12ch			Single platform, Down side.
Muir of Ord	13mi 04ch	>105<	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms. Right-hand crossing loop (466m/1530ft). Down Siding, trailing. Up Siding, facing.
Conon Bridge	16mi 21ch			Single platform, Up side.
Dingwall	18mi 58ch	102	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (410m/1345ft), Down refuge siding.
Junction Points	18mi 76ch			Power Operated junction points. Setting: Down Plunger, Up track circuit
				Indications: B (Branch: Garve), M (Main: Invergordon)
Evanton IB	25mi 00ch	102	TEP-i (TPWS)
Alness	28mi 70ch			Single platform, Down side.
Invergordon	31mi 37ch	102	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (395m/1305ft). Up Siding, trailing.
Distillery No.1 GF	31mi 76ch		Sdg-i	Ground frame. Up sidings, facing.
Distillery No.2 GF	32mi 07ch		Sdg-i	Ground frame. Down sidings, trailing.
	32mi 20ch	101		Change of radio channel
Delny LC	34mi 79ch		ABCL
Nigg LC	39mi 25ch			AHBC
Fearn	40mi 60ch	101	TEP-i	Single platform, Up side. Up siding, trailing.
Tain	44mi 23ch	>112<	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (255m/840ft). Down Siding, trailing.
	44mi 36ch	113		Change of radio channel
Ardgay	57mi 70ch	113	TEP-i (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (435m/1430ft). Down Siding, facing.
Culrain	61mi 00ch			Single platform, Down side.
Invershin	61mi 34ch			Single platform, Down side.
Lairg	66mi 78ch	113	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (302m/990ft). Up Siding, trailing.
Lairg LC	67mi 07ch		AOCL+B	Driver's plunger on Lairg Down platform. (Also plungers for Shunting movements)
	70mi 00ch	126		Change of radio channel
Acheilidh No.2 LC	72mi 63ch		ABCL
Rovie LC	76mi 35ch		AOCL+B
Rogart	77mi 01ch	126/112	TEP-i (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (330m/1095ft). All Down trains must stop for Open Level Crossing
Kirkton LC	82mi 44ch		AOCL+B
Golspie	84mi 30ch			Single platform, Up side.
Dunrobin Castle	86mi 15ch			Single platform, Up side.
Brora LC	90mi 31ch		AOCL+B	(Plunger for shunting movements)
Brora	90mi 48ch	112	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (370m/1220ft). Up Siding, trailing.
Dalchalm LC	91mi 30ch		AOCL+B
Helmsdale	101mi 40ch	112	TEP-i (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (255m/840ft). Down Siding, trailing.
Marrel LC	102mi 38ch		ABCL
Kildonan LC	111mi 03ch			Open Level Crossing. All trains to stop, whistle and proceed
Kildonan	111mi 05ch			Single platform, Up side.
Kinbrace	118mi 20ch	112/111		Single platform, Up side. Change of radio channel
Kinbrace LC	118mi 25ch		AOCL+B
Forsinard LC	125mi 67ch		AOCL+B	(Plunger for shunting movements)
Forsinard	125mi 69ch	111	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (250m/820ft). Up Siding, trailing.
Altnabrec GF	133mi 73ch	111	Sdg-i	Up Siding, trailing (for Engineer's trolleys only).
Altnabrec	133mi 76ch			Single Platform, Up side.
Scotscalder	143mi 02ch			Single Platform, Down side.
Halkirk LC	145mi 59ch		ABCL
Halkirk IB	146mi 53ch	111	TEP-i	Down direction only. Combined with Distant board for Georgemas.
Georgemas Junction	147mi 20ch	111	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-side Up loop (240m/800ft) ground frame controlled. Up Siding, trailing.
				Power Operated junction points. Setting: Up plunger, Down track circuit.
				Indications: B (Branch: Thurso), M (Main: Forsinard)
Bower IB	147mi 56ch	111	TEP-i	Up direction only. Combined with Distant board for Georgemas.
Watten LC	153mi 68ch		AOCL+B
Wick	161mi 36ch	111	TEP (TPWS)	Single platform terminus. Loop controlled by ground frame. Down Sidings.

The power operated points at Georgemas Junction were installed in February 1999. Prior to this the junction was operated with a ground frame.

RETB Signalling: Georgemas Junction - Thurso

Controlled by Inverness Signalling Centre (RETB workstation)

Location	Mileage	Radio  Channel	Signalling	Remarks
Georgemas (Junction)	00mi 00ch	111	TEP (TPWS)	Power Operated junction points. Setting: Down plunger, Up track circuit.
				Indications: B (Branch: Thurso), M (Main: Forsinard)
Georgemas Branch	00mi 04ch	111	TEP-i	Branch Stop Boards within Georgemas Station Limits.
Hoy LC	00mi 72ch		AOCL+B
Thurso	06mi 50ch	111	TEP (TPWS)	Single platform terminus. Loop controlled by ground frame. Down Sidings, Up 'Dock line'.

RETB Signalling: Dingwall - Kyle of Lochalsh

Controlled by Inverness Signalling Centre (RETB workstation)

Location	Mileage	Radio  Channel	Signalling	Remarks
Dingwall	00mi 00ch	102	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (410m/1345ft), Down refuge siding.
Junction Points	00mi 19ch			Power Operated junction points. Setting: Down Plunger, Up track circuit.
				Indications: B (Branch: Kyle), M (Main: North Line)
Dingwall No.1 LC	00mi 57ch		AFBCL
Dingwall Middle LC	00mi 67ch		AFBCL
Dingwall No.2 LC	01mi 05ch		AOCL+B
Fodderty IB	02mi 31ch	105	TEP-i (TPWS)
Achterneed LC	04mi 55ch		AOCL+B
Garve	11mi 65ch	105	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (240m/800ft). Up siding, facing.
Garve LC	11mi 72ch		ABCL	Driver's plunger on Garve Down platform, and plunger for Up direction Shunt.
Lochluichart	17mi 20ch			Single platform, Up side.
Achanult	21mi 37ch			Single platform, Up side.
Achansheen	27mi 72ch	105/104	TEP-i (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (305m/1010ft). Up siding, trailing.
	39mi 00ch	108		Change of radio channel
Achnashellach	40mi 34ch			Single platform, Down side.
Balnacra LC	42mi 12ch		AOCL+B
Blackwood No.2 LC	44mi 67ch		ABCL
Strathcarron	45mi 74ch	108	TEP (TPWS)	Two platforms, left-hand crossing loop (235m/780ft). Up siding, trailing.
Strathcarron LC	45mi 75ch		AOCL+B	Driver's plungers on Strathcarron platforms, and plunger for Up direction Shunt.
Attadale	48mi 22ch			Single platform, Down side.
Stromeferry	53mi 15ch			Single platform, Up side.
Duncraig	57mi 09ch			Single platform, Down side.
Plockton	58mi 22ch			Single platform, Up side.
Duirinish	59mi 58ch			Single platform, Down side.
Kyle of Lochalsh	63mi 64ch	108	TEP (TPWS)	Two Terminal platforms. Loop and Platform 2 access by Ground frames. East (Down) siding. West (Up) siding.

Trains at Kyle normally arrive and depart from Platform 1 ('Up Platform' in the RETB system).

Signalling Notes

• TCB: Track Circuit Block, controlled from Inverness Signalling Centre (I).
• TEP: RETB Token Exchange Point with stop boards
• TEP-i: Intermediate RETB Token Exchange Point. Trains with a 'Long Section' token may pass the stop board.
• Sdg-i: Intermediate Siding with shut-in facillity.
• TPWS: TEP equiped with Train Protection and Warning System. Blue light below Stop Board.
• GF: Ground Frame (controls points).
• Sidings: Out of Use
• IB: Intermediate Block Post
• LC: Level Crossing.
• AOCL: Automatic Open Level Crossing, locally monitored by train driver (flashing white signal).
• AOCL+B: Modified AOCL with addition of half barriers.
• ABCL: Automatic Half Barrier Level Crossing, locally monitored by train driver (flashing white signal).
• AHBC: Automatic Half Barrier Level Crossing, monitored at Signalling Centre.
• AFBCL: Automatic Full Barrier Level Crossing, locally monitored by train driver (flashing white signal).