City rail solution

Published on Monday 2 November 2009 19:56

Recent statements from Holyrood confirm the Scottish Government's support for a high-speed rail (HSR) line linking London with Glasgow and Edinburgh (your report, 30 October).

But there is a problem with HSR accessing city centres. The options are to share existing "slow" rail lines, with consequent delays, to build new stations and lines or to convert existing stations.

Edinburgh has a problem, in that there is only one city centre station, which is already working near its limit. Building a Waverley low-level, accessed by tunnels, is an attractive but expensive option.

Why not take the line along the old Caledonian route through Merchiston and the West Approach Road to a terminus at the Morrison Street goods yard site?

The Tiger hotel planning application has just been knocked back for this site. The new Haymarket Station interchange (trains, trams, buses) will be across the road.

There is some housing on the line and the West Approach Road would have to be fitted above/below the HSR – but there is a real opportunity to use this prime site as a 21st-century transport hub.

PATRICK HUTTON

Capital Rail Action Group

Royal Crescent

Edinburgh