22 August 2014
TransPennine routes could be extended to Stirling
Transform Scotland has published its response to the DfT consultation on 'Future of Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises'. (The consultation closed earlier this week.)
In its response, Transform Scotland has, amongst other things, called upon TransPennine services to be extended beyond Glasgow to serve Stirling. Paul Tetlaw, Transform Scotland rail campaigner, said:
"In Scotland the catchment area in the Central Belt could be significantly extended by starting and terminating some trains at Stirling. This would tap into the market of those currently opting to fly as well as those using the motorway network to drive south. These and some Glasgow trains could then serve Motherwell which has a catchment population of some 650,000, is well served by local trains, lies only one mile from the M74 motorway, and yet has a very poor service of Anglo-Scottish trains. If track capacity on the WCML is an issue then these Stirling trains could run combined with Edinburgh trains as far as Carlisle or combined with a Glasgow train as far as Motherwell."