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SEStran welcomes new High Speed Rail report

Date: 31st August 2009

SEStran welcomes the proposal for a high speed trail services from Scotland to London in Network Rail's newly-published report on its New Lines Programme.

 

SEStran has been working in partnership with other Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs), Scottish business, cross-party political interest, English regionss and other bodies, to press for action on the issue.

 

SEStran Chair, Cllr Russell Imrie said :

 

 “This is an excellent development. High speed rail links with London, other parts of Scotland and the UK would have many advantages for the SEStran region”.

 

“High speed rail offers a viable alternative to air travel for business travellers and others planning long distance travel within the UK. It could also play a role in reducing car dependency, by providing an alternative to driving for many long distance commuters”.

 

“We are disappointed that the plans do not include the north east of England and Yorkshire, as there are many potential benefits for Scotland from high speed links with these regions. The proposals do however present an opportunity to create a truly high speed link between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Improved links between Scotland’s two key cities are vital to the economic future of the region and to Scotland as a whole.”

 

“It is therefore also important that the proposals look at extending high speed rail services to the rest of Scotland, beyond the central belt.”

 

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