5 September 2009
Welcome for East of Scotland rail study
Welcoming the news set out in RAGES's email newsletter (see copy below), Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland, said:
"Congratulations must go to RAGES for their perseverance in pressing politicians and the rail industry to deliver improved rail services for East Lothians and the Borders. The Scottish Government's commissioning of a development study is very welcome. We are convinced that this will come up with a convincing case for re-establishing a local rail service from Edinburgh through to Berwick-upon-Tweed stopping at new stations at East Linton and Reston, as well as providing a more regular interval service for Dunbar."
RAGES are a long-standing member of Transform Scotland.
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RAGES Electronic News 250
RAGES attended a meeting last Wednesday with the Minister for Transport,
Stewart Stevenson, MSP. Other attendees are noted below.
The two MSPs who arranged this meeting, and also attended, have put out
press releases and these are included below in the order received by me!
From John Lamont, MSP for Roxburgh and Berwickshire:
RESTON STATION MOVES TO NEXT STAGE
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson MSP has committed the Scottish
Government to funding the next stage of the re-opening of the Reston Station
in Berwickshire. During a meeting with Berwickshire MSP John Lamont, East
Lothian MSP Iain Gray, East Berwickshire councillor Jim Fullarton and Barrie
Forrest from RAGES, the Government Minister confirmed that the Scottish
Government would fund the Development Study to look at the re-opening of
Reston Station together with an hourly service between Edinburgh and Dunbar.
Berwickshire MSP John Lamont said "This is extremely welcome news and is a
step in the right direction. Whilst the Scottish Government had previously
indicated that it was supportive of the re-opening of the station at Reston,
there was growing frustration that more progress was not being made to move
this project forward. The Transport Minister has confirmed that the
Government is ready to move to the next stage and expects to do so shortly."
"For too long Berwickshire has not had the investment in its transport
network that it deserves. Whilst much is said about the re-opening the
railway to Galashiels, this will not address the inadequate public transport
in the eastern Borders. The re-opening of Reston station would go some way
to rectify this but we need to see real progress in delivering this."
East Berwickshire councillor Jim Fullarton said "Scottish Borders Council
remains committed to the re-opening of the station at Reston. There has been
some doubt as to whether the local councils or the Government would be
funding the next stage of this project but I am delighted that the Transport
Minister has now made it absolutely clear that the Government will be paying
for the Development Study. The Minister has suggested that he will give the
go ahead for this shortly and the study should be completed within 12
months."
Vice Chairman of RAGES Barrie Forrest said "I welcome the continued support
of John Lamont and Iain Gray for the local train services and new stations
at Reston and East Linton. I emphasised to the Transport Minister that many
Berwickshire residents feel that they are often forgotten about when it
comes to public investment. However, I believe that there was positive news
from the Minister that progress will soon be made."
From Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian:
GRAY GIVES CAUTIOUS WELCOME TO RAIL PROGRESS
Better train services for the county are a step nearer after local MSP Iain
Gray took a delegation to meet Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson to
discuss the issue.
During the meeting, also attended by Berwickshire MSP John Lamont,
Councillors Paul McLennan, Jim Fullarton, Russell Imrie and Barrie Forrest
from rail campaign group RAGES, Mr Stevenson confirmed that the Scottish
Government would fund a development study to look at the re-opening of East
Linton and Reston stations together with an hourly service between Edinburgh
and Dunbar.
Mr Gray said:
"There has been much frustration locally that possible improvements to East
Lothian rail services, such as a better Dunbar service and a station at East
Linton, have been overtaken by other rail projects elsewhere in the county.
The meeting made that clear to the minister that we were concerned by the
slow rate of progress.
He added:
"We had concerns that the development study could not begin until the two
additional weekday Dunbar services begin in December 2010. But the Minister
assured us that the study could be approved before that. It's a small but
welcome step in the right direction and I am pleased that we are starting to
make progress again. Dunbar is a growing town and it needs a greatly
improved rail service to reflect that. Progress is still far too slow in my
view, but welcome nonetheless"
Vice Chairman of RAGES Barrie Forrest said "I welcome the continued support
of John Lamont and Iain Gray for the local train services and new stations
at Reston and East Linton. It is positive news from the Minister that
progress will soon be made."
RAGES would only add to the above press releases by noting that this
development study is being undertaken at least a year ahead of the timescale
that we had been led to believe from the outcome of the recent ScotRail
Franchise Consultation and consequent correspondence.
Russell Darling
Rail Action Group, East of Scotland
www.rages.org.uk
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