Transform Scotland
NEWS RELEASE
Strictly embargoed: Not for use before 00:01, Monday 3 March 2014
CAMPAIGN LAUNCH CALLS FOR SCOTTISH ‘RAIL REVOLUTION’
Leading transport campaign group to build broad support to make rail travel faster, safer, greener and more competitive
Transform Scotland [1] today (Monday 3-Mar) launched a new campaign to build support for a ‘rail revolution’ in Scotland stating that Scotland’s rail network urgently requires investment and upgrading to provide travellers with a safe, civilised and sustainable mode of transport, to support the Scottish economy and to help Scotland protect its environment and meet its legally-binding climate change targets.
The ‘Inter-City Express’ campaign [2] aims to transform rail travel in Scotland over the next fifteen years, bringing all seven of Scotland’s cities closer together with a ‘safe, civilised and sustainable mode of transport that is fit for the 21st Century’. The key features of the campaign are to:
- Extend planned rail electrification from Perth to Dunblane, in conjunction with doubling and electrifying the Inverness to Perth line, transforming its capacity and capability for both passenger and freight traffic
- Reduce journey times from Inverness, Aberdeen and Dundee to the Central Belt through electrification and extensive doubling of the relevant rail lines
- Bring the long-neglected single track rail line from Aberdeen to Inverness into the 21st Century through a programme of upgrading and modernisation
- Build and electrify a new direct rail link from Perth to Edinburgh, cutting up to 35 minutes off journey times from Inverness and Perth to Edinburgh
- Create a new Inter-City rail hub at Perth station as a catalyst for transport connectivity, urban regeneration and economic recovery
The campaign will be seeking support from across the whole of the country, from Scottish businesses and business groups, such as Chambers of Commerce, Local Authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships, politicians, media outlets, campaign and community groups and other organisations and individuals in order to move forward its vision of a better transport future for Scotland.
Transform Scotland spokesperson, Paul Tetlaw, said:
“Scotland needs a rail revolution. Our campaign will build broad civic support for a planned programme of investment in the Scottish rail network over the next fifteen years to bring all seven of Scotland’s cities closer together with a safe, civilised and sustainable mode of transport and make Scotland’s rail network fit for the 21st Century. In doing so, we can reduce journey times, support travellers and commuters, create jobs, support the Scottish economy and reduce Scotland’s carbon emissions.”
“The rail route from Perth to Edinburgh is currently not fit for purpose as an inter-city route. The average weekday rail journey time is 76 minutes, substantially longer than the equivalent road journey. Shockingly, the current fastest journey time from Perth to Edinburgh (71 minutes) is actually slower than the equivalent journey time of 100 years ago (65 minutes in 1913). The people of Scotland deserve better.”
Richard Ardern, spokesperson for Friends of the Far North Line, said:
“In order to tackle the Highlands’ over-reliance on the road network, the rail lines south from Inverness to Perth and east to Aberdeen are long overdue for development as strategic routes that can provide competitive alternatives to the roads.”
“We need better trains to enhance the passenger experience on routes from the Highlands to the Central Belt. In the short-term, there is an opportunity for more appropriate trains to be brought on to the route to Inverness to replace those currently in use. In the longer term, the ambition should be for a dualled and electrified Highland Main Line as only this level of investment will allow the sustainable, passenger and freight options to compete with the road alternative.”
Rail Freight Group spokesperson David Spaven said:
“The great thing about radically upgrading the rail infrastructure north of the Central Belt is that freight transport would benefit enormously, as well as passengers. With a fit-for-purpose Perth-Inverness railway, for example, we could increase the number of daily freight trains from two to as many as eight in each direction. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 300 lorries off the A9 every day.”
Further information about the ‘Inter-City Express’ campaign can be found at www.transformscotland.org.uk/intercityexpress
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Transform Scotland
Transform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport groups – see <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/members.aspx> for details.
[2] ‘Inter-City Express’ campaign
‘Inter-City Express’ is a joint campaign set up by Transform Scotland, Rail Freight Group, Capital Rail Action Group, the Friends of the Far North Line and the Scottish Association for Public Transport with the aim of building support for action to improve rail journey times between all seven cities in the Scottish Cities Alliance; Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth and Stirling, resulting in a faster, safer, greener and more competitive mode of transport for everyone. More detailed information is available at www.transformscotland.org.uk/intercityexpress.
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