Network Rail has just published its UK business plan for 2014 to 2019 which it has sent to to Rail Regulator for approval.
The plan proposes to invest £4 billion over the five year period in Scotland on improving the rail infrastructure such as track, bridges and new stations.
Priorities in Scotland, set by the Scottish Government, include electrifying the line between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and completing the Borders rail link.
Unfortunately this means that the extension of the electrification of the East Coast mainline from Edinburgh to Aberdeen does not appear as a priority in the plans for 2014-19.
It is positive that the future of through trains has been secured on the London Kings Cross to Aberdeen East Coast mainline route by the ordering of replacement 'bi-mode trains' with underfloor diesel engines to operate on non-electrified routes. But the lack of ambition in the electrification programme on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen route is a disappointment.
The future of rail services is an important practical issue for Dundee rail passengers. It is also a strategic issue for the City as we anticipate a significant growth in tourists when the VandA opens in Dundee.
The SNP government has just published a plan for the future of Scotland’s railways.
But instead of getting a better deal for the public, the ideas they have put forward include:
- cancelling the sleeper service
- stopping cross border trains that go to beyond Edinburgh, so there are no direct trains from Dundee, Motherwell, Perth, Inverness, Aberdeen to London or anywhere south of the border
- splitting off the more profitable parts of the ScotRail network
- increasing the cost of peak time tickets
- longer journey times to “improve” punctuality – but with fewer trains
- changes on capacity which could result in overcrowding, being told to wait for the next train, or standing the whole journey
This isn't a serious plan for the future of Scotland's railways. It would have a negative effect in Dundee by removing our direct rail and sleeper services to London. This would not only be inconvenient to rail travelers having to make more changes on their long distance journeys but also have a negative effect on the local economy.
That is why today Scottish Labour has launched a campaign to save Scotland’s railways. We have launched an online petition with a target to get 50,000 signatures opposing these plans.
Last time the SNP floated such crazy transport ideas – charging cyclists for using the pavements – they were thrown out by sheer weight of public opinion.
Labour will be campaigning on the side of Scottish passengers, not on the side of the big train companies.
To register your opposition to this plan and to demand the government in Holyrood think again add your support to our online petition.
