30-07-2025
Couple who ‘closed station' miss court due to lack of trains
A couple accused of closing one of Scotland's most remote railway stations say they have lost a legal case against Network Rail — because they could not catch a train to court.
Liz Howe and Ian Appleby's home is situated on the platform of Altnabreac, a tiny stop deep in the Flow Country of Caithness.
The pair face criminal charges over their actions during a complex dispute with Network Rail over access to tracks and platforms.
Altnabreac is 30 miles west of Wick and about 115 miles north of Inverness
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They have been accused of routinely preventing railway workers from gaining access to the platform to perform basic maintenance, such as gritting before winter.
ScotRail suspended services to and from the tiny request stop for more than a year because of the continuing row.
And under its conditions Howe, a former police detective, and Appleby are not allowed to directly or indirectly 'approach, contact or or communicate with any train crew by any means', or attempt to do so.
The couple sued Network Rail over their disagreement but their case was dismissed last month after they failed to attend several hearings at Wick sheriff court.
The pair, in a series of YouTube videos, now say that they lost because there was no public transport from Altnabreac to Wick.
Appleby said: 'They demanded that we attend the hearing in person.
'Considering that we have transport issues, we can't use the train and we don't have transport at the moment, and it is a 50-mile round trip to Wick, it is just unreasonable.'
Howe added: 'We think we were being punished for trying to tell the truth.'
Howe, in another video, claimed that she and Appleby had not attended the later hearings because they had lost confidence in the process.
The couple had been representing themselves in their civil action against Network Rail.
They are also acting as party litigants after being sued by the mobile phone provider EE after it also encountered problems accessing land near the couple's cottage.
Hearings in that case were held using video-conferencing technology last week.
A criminal case against the couple for trespassing on the line was due to call late this spring. This has been repeatedly delayed and is now scheduled for September.
A path to the station has been periodically obstructed
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The pair are accused of culpably and recklessly, and with utter disregard for the consequences, crossing barriers on to the level crossing at Altnabreac Station and on to the rail track while trains were approaching, to the danger of themselves and passengers and staff. The offence is alleged to have taken place last March.
Howe and Appleby deny the charges. ScotRail resumed services to Altnabreac in April.
Howe made headlines in 2020 when she was reported missing after 'turning to God'. She was eventually found safe and well in the Highlands after a UK-wide police hunt.
