News update:
The railway currently has seasonal vacancies for footplate crew and train guards. Tickets for the 2024 season are now on sale.

Strathspey Railway > Aviemore - Boat of Garten - Broomhill

2024 TIMETABLE

 

March

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April

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July

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August

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September

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October

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TRAVELLING TIMES

Standard Service - Aviemore to Broomhill

Aviemore Departure 10.15 12.45 15.00
Boat of Garten Arrival 10.33 13.03 15.18
Boat of Garten Departure 10.43 13.13 15.28
Broomhill Arrival 11.06 13.36 15.51

 

Standard Service - Broomhill to Aviemore

Broomhill Departure 11.21 13.51 16.06
Boat of Garten Arrival 11.34 14.04 16.19
Boat of Garten Departure 11.39 14.09 16.24
Aviemore Arrival 11.57 14.27 16.42

Under normal circumstances and where advertised, trains will be steam hauled, but the company reserve the right to use diesel power

View timetable in PDF icon format (opens in new window)

Purchase Tickets

Seasonal Train Crew Staff - Footplate and Guards

The Strathspey Railway's main running season extends from early April to late October, with a core three-return-trains per day, four-days per week timetable increasing to six or seven days per week during our peak months of July and August.

We are looking to augment our volunteer train crews with temporary seasonal paid staff who can join us during our 2024 running season. At this point in time, we are fairly flexible on the number of days or weeks that you can visit and work on the railway at any given time over the season, however we prefer and would give priority to engaging staff who can primarily support us during July and August.

Ideally, such staff would either have or come to the railway with existing verifiable competence and experience, based on their time on the Strathspey or other heritage or main line railways, requiring only Route, Rules and Regulations training and sufficient 'turns' to meet Strathspey Competence Management requirements.

As an example, we have recently revised our Footplate Policy and have a clear and efficient process for the transfer of competence of footplate crew to the SR, again based on verifiable evidence of competency and experience. This aspect of the Policy will be shared where applicable with those who express an interest in joining us on the footplate.

However, we would also welcome interest from those close to gaining or slightly out of 'Ticket', providing we have enough time to induct, train and formally assess as competent such an individual, well ahead of the busy July/August period.

Employment in the Operational, Loco, C&W, Infrastructure, etc departments will be available to seasonal staff during days on which passenger train services are not being run.

Terms of Employment would be with the 'Strathspey Railway Company Ltd'., based on a seasonal Zero-Hours contract with rates of pay being in the order of £13.50 to £15.00 per hour depending on grade and/or experience.

Seasonal paid staff would also be required to join the SRC's sister charity, the railway's Volunteer Member's organisation, the 'Strathspey Railway Association'. (Initial membership fee will be refunded).

Accommodation may be available for SRA Members in the Association's Railway Hostel in Aviemore at a nominal overnight fee (Conditions apply). (see details of Spey Lodge in SRA website https://strathspeyrailwayassociation.co.uk ).

To express an interest in taking up this offer further, please send an email with a covering statement regarding yourself including details of your likely availability over the season and outline or attach your CV in respect of the Train Crew role you are applying for, to recruitment@strathspeyrailway.co.uk.

Applications for this current Train Crew recruitment drive will close midnight Sunday 5th May.

Driver preparing locomotive for another day on the Strathspey railway
Reflections of firebox flames on footplate
Steam and heritage diesel crews standing in front of Caledonian 828 at Broomhill station

Train Services

Standard Travel

Standard travel is available on all services. Standard return travel tickets can be purchased online here. Single tickets can be purchased on the day of travel at any station subject to availability.

Adult Return - £21.50, Senior (60+) Return - £19.35, Child (5 - 15) £10.75, Children under 5 travel free. Family Ticket (2 Adults and 2 Children 5 - 15) - £45.00, Day Rover Tickets - Adult/Senior - £37.65 and Child - £18.90.

First Class upgrades are only available for the 10.15 service.

Light Lunch

Travelling alongside the famous River Spey, our Light Lunch service consists of a lovely selection of sandwiches prepared to order and a warm bowl of soup, freshly prepared on board by our catering chef. There will be a choice of 2 soups every day, accompanied by a selection of sandwiches prepared to order with a choice of teas or coffee.

Light Lunch is served on our 12:45 departure from Aviemore and will be available on all days we are operating our service from late March to the end of October (excluding special event dates - see special event pages for catering details).

light lunch soup de jour
Passengers enjoying light lunch in a first class compartment
Light lunch train

Booking Options

Light Lunch is served aboard our heritage coaches, restored to the highest standards. We offer a choice of Standard and First Class.

Standard seating is at tables of four, you will be seated at a table dedicated to your group, if you are in a larger group we will ensure you are all seated together.

First Class seating is in an exclusive private compartment and seats a maximum of four customers (including children).

Tickets and Fares

Standard Class Light Lunch costs £32.75 per adult, £18.00 for children aged between 5 and 15 and £4.00 for children under 5 (under 5s not eating may travel free).

Upgrade to First Class for £30.00.

Upgrades are for your whole party, not per-person. First Class seats a maximum of four.

Travelling with Dogs

Dogs are not permitted in our dining carriages, whether Standard or First Class.

Assistance dogs are always welcome, please note whether you are travelling with an assistance dog when making your booking.

Your Journey

Advance booking for Light Lunch is essential!

On the day of your journey please aim to arrive at Aviemore Station, Platform 3, between 12:15 and 12:35 to allow time to collect your tickets and board the train. Tickets may not be available for collection earlier than 12:15.

Afternoon Tea

Our Afternoon Tea service is unique in the Highlands, as you travel through the beautiful Scottish countryside while relaxing with a fine selection of sandwiches prepared to order, home baked scones and cakes (with local jam and cream) together with a choice of teas or if you prefer coffee.

Afternoon Tea is served on our 15:00 departure from Aviemore and will be available on all days we are operating our service from late March to the end of October.

cakes on a plate
Passengers enjoying Afternon Tea in a first class compartment
Afternoon Tea train

Booking Options

Afternoon Tea is served aboard our heritage coaches, restored to the highest standards. We offer a choice of Standard and First Class.

Standard seating is at tables of four, you will be seated at a table dedicated to your group, if you are in a larger group we will ensure you are all seated together.

First Class seating is in an exclusive private compartment and seats a maximum of four customers (including children).

Tickets and Fares

Standard Class Afternoon Tea costs £42.75 per adult, £22.00 for children aged between 5 and 15 and £4.90 for children under 5 (under 5s not eating may travel free).

Upgrade to First Class for £30.00.

Upgrades are for your whole party, not per-person. First Class seats a maximum of four.

Travelling with Dogs

Dogs are not permitted in our dining carriages, whether Standard or First Class.

Assistance dogs are always welcome, please note whether you are travelling with an assistance dog when making your booking.

Your Journey

Advance booking for Afternoon Tea is essential!

On the day of your journey please aim to arrive at Aviemore Station, Platform 3, between 14:30 and 14:50 to allow time to collect your tickets and board the train. Tickets may not be available for collection earlier than 14:30.

Observation Carriages

Coronation Observation Carriage

Returning to Highland rails, sixty years after it last travelled on both the Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig lines, the Coronation Observation carriage is now providing passengers with panoramic views of the Spey valley and the Cairngorm Mountains.

The Coronation was a streamlined express passenger train service run by the London and North Eastern Railway between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. Named to mark the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, this service operated between 1937 and the outbreak of war in 1939, when the train's carriages were put into storage. The observation carriages from the Coronation train were transferred to the West Highland line in 1956 where they remained in service until the 1960s.

Coronation Observation Carriage back in service in the Scottish Highland
Coronation Observation Carriage interior view
Coronation Observation Carriage at Boat of Garten station

Recently restored to its original 1937 Art Deco interior, this streamlined carriage, often referred to as the Beavertail on the railway because of its distinctive 'beaver tail' shape, has armchair seating for twenty two, together with attended service.

The price of the Coronation Service includes tea or coffee and a sweet treat.

Dogs are not permitted in this carriage.

Assistance dogs are always welcome, please note whether you are travelling with an assistance dog when making your booking.

Book Now

Accessible Carriage

Our new accessibility carriage, has been adapted to accommodate 2 wheelchairs with adjoining seats for carers. Extra wide doors ensure easy access for all. Although there is no accessible toilet on board this carriage, all our railway stations have accessible toilets.

Portable ramp used to access the carriage
Entering the Accessible carriage
Accessible accommodation in the carriage

 

Interior of Accessible carriage
Interior of Accessible carriage
Interior of Accessible carriage

Getting Here

Getting to our railway stations

Speyside Way and Walks in Strathspey (map opens in new window)

Accessibility

Accessibility Statement

The Strathspey Railway provides one third discount off the standard 2nd Class standard travel ticket for the Less Able passenger and, if applicable, one Carer may travel free of charge on providing appropriate documentation. If you are booking your tickets online, please call our Office on 01479 810725 so as we can assist you with booking and payment. The one third discount arrangements for a Less Able visitor, with their Carer applies to First Class travel but the standard £30 charge will be payable for a First Class upgrade. The one third off discount for a Less Able passenger and their Carer does not apply to Dining, Special Events and Packages Tours and Experiences. If a Less Able visitor is confined to travel in our Guard’s van, they and their Carer may both travel free of charge If they have booked catering options the return travel will be deducted from the full price.

For detailed information about our facilities, please refer to our Access statement. The Access Statement refers to our daily service trains, and provides detailed information for visitors departing our Aviemore station. For Accessibility related information regarding our Dining or Diesel multiple units trains, or if you have any specific questions regarding Accessibility at our Boat of Garten or Broomhill stations, please phone our Office on 01472 810 725.

The Strathspey Railway Platform 3 can be accessed by foot on crossing the footbridge located at the mainline station in Aviemore. Getting there by car: From Grampian Road which is where Aviemore main street is located, go to the very south of the village passing the train station and the petrol station on the left, and passing Happy Haggis on the right. You will reach La Taverna restaurant where a roundabout is located. Take the left exit signposted Cairngorm Mountain and then take the next immediate left which will take you to Dalfaber road running parallel to the river Spey. You will first pass a holiday house estate, then Aviemore Bunkhouse and The Old Bridge Inn on your left before the road forks into two, steeply going up towards The Strathspey Railway car park and train station. Parking: Grit car park. Two clearly signed Accessible Car Park spaces available in our car park. Access: For access to The Strathspey Railway Platform 3 from the car park, a level crossing via a long gradual ramp is provided. Level entrance to ticket office: Level entrance to Ticket Office Available. Wheelchair accessible toilet. Yes – a wheelchair accessible toilet is available on platform.

Please telephone in advance and notify station staff on your arrival for our daily services. Our vintage carriages, with both Country Class and First Class seating areas, having been built in the mid-1900s, are regrettably not accessible for wheelchair users. If less able visitors can take a few steps to our First Class and Country Class seating areas, station staff and guards will be readily available to offer assistance to anyone that requires it. Wheelchair accommodation on board is limited to our Guard’s Van. This is in a smaller area of the main carriage set where wheelchair users can remain in wheelchairs throughout the trip along our line (Space is limited to a maximum of two wheelchair users), with a very limited number of seats available for family, friends and carers. Station staff and guard staff will be available to assist any visitors who may be restricted to travelling in the Guard’s Van. Unfortunately, we have no disabled access to toilets on board our heritage carriages. We regret that our Fine Dining carriages are not currently wheelchair accessible. Please note these facilities will be being upgraded for future visitors. Coffees, teas and bar facilities available on board and served at your table.

From Boat of Garten LOCATION: At railway station in centre of village PARKING: On tarmac beside Boat Hotel , adjacent to platform. Accessible parking available. ACCESS: Level entry access. Regrettably, no wheelchair accessible toilets. From Broomhill At station off minor road to Nethybridge from A95. PARKING: On Roadway at station ACCESS: Level to platform at side of building. TOILETS: Ladies and Gents toilets available. Accessible toilet available.

FAQ

No. Please take note of your confirmation number, give your name at the ticket office on your booked date of travel, no more than 30 minutes prior to travel.

Please ring the office on 01479 810725 or email (enquiries@strathspeyrailway.co.uk) and we can check your booking and resend your confirmation.

Confirmation emails do not need to be printed just, just a name and the last 4 digits of the booking is required to be given.

Ticket office hours:

  • 0945 – 1500 on operational days only. Closed at other times.
  • Main office 7 days 0930-1630.

These times may vary

Please ring the office on 01479 810725 or email (enquiries@strathspeyrailway.co.uk) and we can make any changes for you.

We are happy to fully refund any bookings when the cancellation is made more than 7 days before the date of travel. Within 7 days, the full refund is discretionary. There is no admin fee for changes to bookings.

Yes, we have group rates for travel aboard our steam and vintage diesel services – please don’t hesitate to ring our office on 01479 810725 or email us to discuss. Unfortunately, we can’t offer discounts on group meal bookings.

  • All meals and special events must be prebooked at all times.
  • Bookings close at 6.00am on the morning of travel.
  • Standard return travel may be available on the day of travel.

Santa Express tickets generally go on sale around September. Add us on Facebook (link available in footer) for the most up to date information and ticket announcements!

For a Senior ticket you should be 60 or over.

Children under 5 travel free and have their own seat. It is necessary to include all under 5's in your booking, to ensure the seat is reserved for them. This can be found in standard 'Return Tickets'> 'Book now'> 'Ticket Options'> 'Under 5'

Below is an outline of the groups entitled to discount travel on The Strathspey Railway:

  • Armed Forces (Defence Discount Service)
  • Blue Light Card
  • NHS Staff
  • The Scottish Police Recreation Association
  • ATOC (Train Operating Company Staff)
  • Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA)
  • HRA Members

Instructions and conditions of discounts for all groups have been issued to the companies. Please refer to your company for full details on the discount available to you.

Please note that any concessionary fares will not be applicable to special events, dining on board, or tours and packages ticket purchases.

We have four First Class Compartments aboard our 10.15 daily service. Each compartment seats a maximum of six people. Stamdard Class tickets can be upgraded to First Class for this service but only at a station and is subject to availability. The price to upgrade is £30 per compartment

If the Station is not manned (which may happen on the rare occasion), please pay when you disembark at your destination station.

  • We welcome dogs aboard our services. For health & safety reasons they cannot sit in First Class or dining areas! The charge for 2024 is £3.00 per dog. Restrictions may apply.
  • Limited space is available on the train to carry bikes. The charge for 2024 is £4 per bike.
  • Sorry, we cannot accommodate bike trailers (toddler seats)

  • All dining options are return trips from Aviemore (only) back to Aviemore.
  • All online tickets are return trips, single trips can only be purchased from any station on the day of travel.

First Class bookings are based on Adult/senior tickets. If you are travelling with children please add standard tickets to your booking. Please note Compartments are for a maximum of 4 people for dining or 6 for 1015 service, this includes children.

Video of the railways' 2024 services

Strathspey Railway Promotional Video