19 July 2012
Scotland retreats from rail investment
Dear Sir / Madam:
In marked contrast to announcements from Westminster, the Scottish Government has announced the virtual scrapping of its flagship rail project, the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). The SNP Government attempted to promote this as a good news story, however, it soon emerged that the vast bulk of this imaginative project will not now happen.
EGIP would have brought electrification across the Central Belt leading to accelerated journeys, a more robust timetable, opportunities for new stations and services and all the wider benefits of electrification. What now remains is simple electrification of the core Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk High -- and very little else.
All the more worrying is that the announcement took both Network Rail and ScotRail by surprise, Network Rail having spent large amounts on consultation and preparatory work. This comes on top of earlier cancellations of both the Edinburgh and Glasgow Airport Rail Links.
In the early days of devolution Scotland rightly enjoyed a reputation for its pro-rail policies with line and station re-openings all performing well ahead of projected figures. The SNP have retreated from this and raided the rail budget to fund its massive road building programme. This smacks of 1960s solutions to 21st century transport problems.
Paul Tetlaw
Rail Campaigner
Transform Scotland
5 Rose Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2PR