5 March 2014
Inter-City Express campaign launched
Jetta Doran writes:Transform Scotland, in conjunction with a number of other organisations has launched a new campaign - Inter-City Express - which calls for a 'rail revolution' throughout the country. Scotland’s rail network urgently requires investment and upgrading to provide travellers with a fast, safe, civilised and sustainable mode of transport.
The 'Inter-City Express' campaign 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.
To find out more about this campaign, please visit
www.transformscotland.org.uk/intercityexpress