BAM’s team joined transport minister Jenny Gilruth, Scotland’s Railway MD Alex Hynes and a group of local school children to mark the opening of the new station, which will see passenger services start on Friday 3 February.

The new station is part of a wider £42 million Scottish Government investment in Scotland’s Railway which has seen the addition of a new 950-metre passing loop which will allow trains on the single line to pass in the opposite direction, renewal of 7 kilometre of track, and installation of an innovative signalling system. This will add capacity to this route, build resilience, and enable future freight growth encouraging removal of HGVs from the roads.

It provides another route to the airport in addition to the existing regular bus service and, following work by Hitrans, includes an upgraded active travel path linking with the airport terminal.

The station will improve transport links to the new town of Tornagrain and to the growing Inverness Airport Business Park, acting as a catalyst for further investment and sustainable economic development in the region.

Nissar Mohammed, operations director for BAM, said: “BAM is extremely proud to be associated with another new station opening – our 15th in 15 years on Scotland’s Railway. That is a huge accolade for us and a demonstration of the success of a long term investment strategy by the Scottish Government and Network Rail.

“Inverness Airport station provides a fast, comfortable and sustainable new transport link between Inverness airport and communities across the Highlands. The project has also delivered new freight links to local industry and a park and ride facility that will reduce congestion on roads into Inverness.

“I’d like to thank BAM’s team who have worked incredibly hard, in collaboration with Network Rail and our supply chain partners, to complete this station over the last year in challenging circumstances. We’re incredibly proud to be part of it.”

Jenny Gilruth, minister for transport, said: “I am delighted that Inverness Airport station is now complete and that services will start calling at the station for the first time this Friday. The site was one of my earliest visits as Transport Minister and gives me a first-hand opportunity to see the significant progress that has been made in a short space of time.

“The £42m package provided by the Scottish Government, including the station and wider rail network infrastructure investment will build resilience and additional capacity. By making rail a more attractive option, we can encourage more people to choose this sustainable transport option as an alternative to the car.

“By providing easy access for nearby communities to the key cities of Aberdeen and Inverness, we can encourage inward investment and housing growth, which will both support the local and wider economies.

”I’d like to thank everyone involved for the collaborative working that has delivered this fantastic new station.”

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “It is part of our commitment, alongside the Scottish Government, to expand the rail network and open up Scotland’s Railway to new communities.

“The opening of the station at Inverness Airport is an exciting development that has the potential to transform the area by improving transport connectivity and triggering further investment and economic growth around the site.

“We look forward to services calling at, and passengers using, Inverness Airport and to seeing the positive impact the station will have in the area in years to come.”

BAM’s 15 new Scottish stations in 15 years:

1. Inverness Airport
2. Airdrie
3. Alloa
4. Bathgate
5. Elgin
6. Eskbank
7. Forres
8. Galashiels
9. Gorebridge
10. Kintore
11. Newtongrange
12. Reston
13. Shawfair
14. Stow
15. Tweedbank