11 January 2011
Improvements needed on Scottish inter-city rail network
Transform Scotland has submitted its response to Network Rail's consultation on its Scottish 'Route Utilisation Strategy', its strategy for the management and development of Scotland's railway.
Our response calls for swifter progress on inter-urban routes and a multi-agency approach to take advantage of the opportunities provided by Scotland's rural rail lines.
Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland, said:
"While there may not currently be a case for all-night trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow, we believe that services should be extended at weekends from 23:30 to 00:30, perhaps initially for a trial period.
"We are pleased that Network Rail are committed to the crucial Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme, but we believe that there needs to be much swifter progress on the lines north of the Central Belt to Aberdeen and Inverness, and on the line between them.
"Finally, we believe that a complete new approach is required for our rural routes. They represent a significant part of the product Scotland offers to tourists. Even those who never travel by rail are drawn to Scotland by iconic images of trains in dramatic scenery and yet the huge potential of these routes is not being realised. We need to see a multi-agency approach whereby the franchise operator works closely with Network Rail, Transport Scotland, tourism bodies, local authorities and the private sector to market these routes and grow income to allow their further development."