The North Sea Commission Transport Group (NSCTG) will visit the Highlands this week as guests of Highland Council.
The North Sea Commission is one of the six geographical commissions of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions which aims to strengthen partnerships between regional authorities which face the challenges and opportunities presented by the North Sea.
The group will be taken on a site visit to the Port of Nigg before a formal meeting in Inverness.
Councillor Ken Gowans, Vice-Chair of the NSCTG, said that the meeting was a chance to maintain and foster greater connectivity between the Highlands and European colleagues who share mutual interests and similar challenges.
The historic Strathspey railway, which operates a 16-kilometre route between Aviemore and Broomhill, has been give a million pounds by an anonymous American donor.
The line, which is part of the former Inverness and Perth Junction Railway, is one of only a handful of former lines to be preserved following rail closures of the 1960s.
It has achieved fame for appearances in several TV programmes, including Monarch of the Glen, Dr Findlay and, more recently, three series of The Traitors.
The company has a fleet of steam and diesel locomotives, which are run and maintained by a team of volunteers and a small number of paid staff.
A spokesperson said that the unrestricted donation will allow them to rebuild their financial reserves and invest in a number of projects which will underpin the sustainability of the railway.
And in the weekend football …..
Ross County was soundly beaten three-nil on Saturday by Arbroath and falls to third bottom place in the Championship, just four points above bottom club, Airdrieonians.
In League One, Inverness Caley Thistle beat Montrose one nil and moves to the top of the league, one point ahead of Stenhousemuir.
