West Highland Line closure November 9-17: buses and station gaps
Buses replace ScotRail trains between Crianlarich, Fort William and Mallaig from Monday, November 9, through Tuesday, November 17, 2026. Rannoch and Corrour have no train or replacement-bus service during the work. Trains between Crianlarich and Oban run normally. Check your exact journey before leaving, particularly if a walk, overnight stay or ferry depends on the rail connection.
The replacement plan keeps some journeys possible, but it does not reproduce every train stop. A visitor heading for Fort William faces a different decision from someone whose accommodation or walking route starts at Corrour. Establish that your destination is served before comparing departure times.
Which journeys have buses, and which do not?
ScotRail's dated service notice sets out the arrangements:
| Journey or station | Arrangement during November 9-17 | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Crianlarich, Fort William and Mallaig | Replacement buses | Search the complete journey, including the bus section |
| Tulloch, Roy Bridge, Spean Bridge and Fort William | Additional bus service | Confirm the dated departure and pickup location |
| Rannoch and Corrour | No trains or replacement buses | Change a rail-dependent plan rather than expecting a bus to arrive |
| Crianlarich to Oban | Trains run normally | Check your complete route to and from Crianlarich separately |
Oban is not an alternative stop for a Fort William ticket or an automatic onward connection to Mallaig. It is a different branch and destination. If you choose to change your trip, check the new transport and accommodation arrangements before cancelling the original ones.
The notice runs through November 17 inclusive. Do not assume that its end date confirms a particular first train on November 18; check the planner for the departure you intend to use.
Rannoch and Corrour need a different plan
The Corrour station page lists no road access and no access for replacement buses. A map pin at the station is not a promise that a taxi can collect you there. Do not substitute an improvised drive or a long walk for the cancelled rail journey.
Rannoch's station page also says replacement buses cannot serve it. Although its address is at the end of the B846, that does not create a scheduled replacement service for this closure.
If an overnight booking depends on either station, contact the accommodation provider and ScotRail before travelling. Ask whether you should move the dates, choose a different base or use a separately confirmed arrangement. Obtain the details before setting off; do not rely on finding a driver after arrival.
For a walk that normally ends with a train from one of these stations, change the plan so it does not depend on that train. Downloaded maps and mobile data cannot make an unserved pickup point reachable.
Where do the replacement buses stop?
National Rail advises checking station signs and station-page transport links. The operator currently lists these pickup points:
| Station | Published replacement-bus location |
|---|---|
| Crianlarich | Bus layby at the police station on the A85 |
| Fort William | Station car park |
| Mallaig | Bus stop on Main Road at the station entrance |
Confirm the stop against current signs and your journey information. In Crianlarich, do not wait on the rail platform assuming the replacement coach will collect you there. Allow time to get yourself and your bags to the road pickup point.
Search outward and return journeys separately. A replacement coach uses a different timetable from the train, and the time for your usual rail service is not a reliable bus departure time. Check the final leg home before committing to an activity at the far end.
If you are continuing from Mallaig by ferry, confirm the sailing, check-in requirement and the rail-replacement arrival independently. This rail notice does not establish ferry operation or guarantee a protected connection. For a flight after returning south, compare the complete bus-and-train itinerary with the airport's arrival requirements rather than allowing only the normal rail journey time.
Wheelchairs, luggage and bicycles
The National Rail replacement-service guide says a valid train ticket is required. Facilities vary by vehicle: a coach may have a toilet, while other vehicles may not. Pack water, any necessary medication and items you need during the journey where you can reach them.
For wheelchair access, help transferring or assistance with bags, contact ScotRail's accessible-travel team before the trip. Explain the actual stations, road pickup and vehicle needs, including the return journey. The operator describes alternative accessible transport where the replacement coach cannot be used; confirm the arrangement for you rather than assuming every departing bus has the same equipment.
Crianlarich's station page reports no step-free platform access and no station staff. That makes the whole transfer worth discussing, even if the bus itself is accessible. A step-free label at a different station does not answer how you reach the A85 pickup point.
ScotRail's bicycle rules do not permit a cycle on a replacement service unless it can be fully folded. A reservation for a bike on a train does not reserve space in a coach luggage hold. If your tour depends on taking a full-size bicycle, arrange a verified alternative or change the dates before reaching the transfer point.
Keep luggage manageable for moving between vehicles. Do not assume a regular commercial coach's baggage allowance or bike policy applies to this rail replacement.
Check the closure notice, not an old scenic timetable
Network Rail's November 6 announcement confirms that the work is going ahead. It includes track renewal and maintenance of drainage and railway structures. This is planned engineering work, not a strike notice.
Use the dated National Rail entry and the operator's current journey search for travel decisions. A saved scenic-route timetable or a photograph of a train at Glenfinnan does not show whether your November service runs.
Before departure, save the replacement itinerary, pickup-point details, ticket and accommodation contact offline. Keep a charged phone and a way to contact your host if the arrival time changes. Leave room in the day for a slower transfer rather than booking a tight connection around the old timetable.
For other parts of a Scotland trip, the United Kingdom family guide covers broader planning. The Glasgow airport M8 works guide concerns a separate road disruption; it does not replace this rail plan.
Mobile data helps with updates, not remote coverage guarantees
OpenSim United Kingdom plans provide a local data allowance for checking changes and messaging accommodation when a usable mobile signal is available. On November 9, the public fixed plans included 1GB for seven days at USD1.14 and 3GB for 15 days at USD3.00, with top-up eligibility shown for those plans. A small fixed allowance may suit journey updates without buying a larger allowance intended for heavy streaming.
An eSIM does not guarantee reception along a remote railway or road. Save the information you need before leaving a reliable connection. If your existing plan already includes enough UK data, use that instead of buying an extra plan solely for this journey.
Use the travel data calculator, phone compatibility guide and installation-timing guide before choosing an allowance or changing settings.
Sources and updates
ScotRail and National Rail provide the closure dates, bus arrangements and unserved-station details. The linked station pages identify pickup points, while the accessibility and bicycle pages explain passenger requirements. Network Rail describes the engineering work. A revised service plan, changed pickup point or confirmed reopening will require an update. After November 17, treat this as dated disruption coverage unless the work is extended.
Photo: Andrew Abbott via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped; the adapted image remains under that license. It shows the station in April 2017, not the November 2026 works.
