9 October 2013
Direct rail route from Perth to Edinburgh
Transform Scotland have issued a parliamentary briefing ahead of this afternoon's parliamentary debate, led by Liz Smith MSP, on reinstatement of a direct rail link from Perth to Edinburgh.
Colin Howden, director of Transform Scotland said:
"We have for the past year been pushing for reinstatement of this line to form part of the Scottish Government's rail development plans. The rail route from Perth to Edinburgh is currently not fit for purpose as an inter-city route. We believe that the way to transform rail journey times from North of Scotland to Edinburgh is to reinstate the direct rail route closed in 1970.
"We're very pleased with the concerted efforts of Liz Smith MSP in promoting the case for reinstatement of this rail line and we look forward to working with her further after today's debate."
In our parliamentary briefing (see link at right), Transform Scotland call for:
1. The Scottish Ministers to instruct the appropriate local authorities to safeguard the rail alignment between Inverkeithing-Halbeath-Bridge of Earn from further inappropriate development in order to allow the future re-opening of a direct rail link between Inverkeithing and Perth. Prior to reopening, sections of the protected trackbed could be used for walking and cycle routes.
2. The Transport Minister to commission a new and comprehensive feasibility study of the benefits and costs associated with re-opening a direct Inverkeithing-Perth link. Our understanding, based upon detailed discussions with Transport Scotland civil servants, is that the 2008 appraisal carried out on behalf of Transport Scotland was limited in scope and ambition.