Happy New Year to you, Simon. That was an almighty set of crayons that you were given for Christmas!
I don’t really know the Invernesian geography well enough to comment, although having had to make various trips to Raigmore over the last six months, I’m au fait with the nightmare that traffic can present around that area. I only really know the parts to the east of the city centre, and I’m not really qualified to comment on anywhere else, but I’d suggest the following:
– I like your loop round Culloden. However, I’d run from Falcon Square or wherever in the city centre, along the Millburn corridor to Eastfield Way retail park, then split into 2: 1st part is a spur to the airport terminal, with an interchange at the proposed Dalcross heavy rail station; 2nd part is a loop from there around the Balloch/Culloden/Smithton area, ending up at Inshes (possible extensions around the housing estates – Milton of Leys?) then back into town
– rebuild the station at the former Gollanfield Junction (close to Ardersier and not all that far from Croy) with shuttle buses/park and ride facilities for people from those places
– Provide some kind of interchange station where the “Culloden Loop” would meet an improved Highland Main Line bringing people in from the south
As I said, I’m only really familiar with a few bits of Inverness, and definitely not aware of the full picture. I quite enjoyed getting around Inverness on the bus with my dayrider ticket (zone 2 from Nairn is very good value), but it was during the summer, and only during the day, so I’ve no experience of what the evening services are like there.
I know this is a fantasy network, and I don’t want to take the crayons away, but the fact is that we could do so much better with what we already have.
I’m away to get mine out and see how Elgin would improve… All the best to you and your family 🙂