SEStran welcomes Greengauge 21
Date : 16th September 2009
SEStran welcomes the Greengauge 21 report, which recommends the development of a comprehensive network of high- speed rail routes, linking Britains’ major towns and cities.
A key part of the business case for a high-speed rail network in the UK is to capture the market between London and Scotland; the largest element of which is Edinburgh and the South East. It is therefore of national importance that the SEStran area is fully incorporated into the development of a national network at an early stage.
SEStran also welcomes the studies’ recognition of the need for a high-speed link between Edinburgh and Glasgow - routed south of the Central Belt – that should be incorporated into the national network.
SEStran Chair, Cllr Russell Imrie said:
“SEStran was a funding partner of Greegauge 21 and we welcome its findings.”
“The proposal suggests that the SEStran region will have fully fledged high speed rail connections with London and key English cities via both East Coast and West Coast routes – but we are slightly concerned that the proposed Link between Edinburgh and Newcastle is not to the same high specification as the rest of the network”.
“SEStran is pleased that the construction of a high speed Edinburgh to Glasgow link is included in the proposal. This raises the possibility of also starting construction of a national network from the Scottish end, which would allow the development of an Edinbuirgh to Glasgow link early on in the programme.”
Ends
SEStran - South East of Scotland Transport Partnership - is one of seven new Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) created by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 and is a partnership of eight local councils covering the Borders, the Lothians, Edinburgh, Fife, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire.
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Dougal, SEStran Communications Officer
T: 0131-524-5161
M: 07889-010-291
E: Andrew.dougal@sestran.gov.uk
