Glasgow express rail link to be key pledge before polls

Published on Tuesday 7 November 2006 12:02

A NEW express rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow is set to be one of the key transport pledges to be made by the current coalition in Holyrood ahead of next year's elections.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats are understood to be thrashing out the plans for major rail improvements between the two cities as part of their manifestos for the elections in May 2007.

If the coalition returns to power, the parties are expected to promise the introduction of a fast electric service routed through Shotts or Airdrie, which would substantially increase capacity as well as reducing journey times.

The plans include the possibility of direct trains from Edinburgh to Glasgow Airport by linking into the airport railway line.

The existing main route through Croy, Falkirk, Polmont and Linlithgow is also set to be electrified under the plans. It is due to be rerouted to connect to the proposed new station at Edinburgh Airport.

If the plans go ahead, the new route would be due to open by 2010 with four services per hour in each direction.

However, campaigners calling for a bullet train between the two cities to speed up rush hour commutes are likely to be disappointed at the proposals.

The most likely route for the express service would travel from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Central through South Livingston, West Calder, Shotts, Bellshill and Cambuslang.

An alternative option would use the route currently being built between Bathgate and Airdrie.

It will be electrified and should be open with the next four years, with four services per hour in each direction between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The reduction in journey times is seen as important to the success of the planned rail link to Edinburgh Airport.

The 650 million scheme would link all Scottish cities to Edinburgh Airport, and is expected to be up and running by 2011.

However, the plans for an underground hub at the airport could face some difficulties, including the added problem of extra fumes as diesel trains struggle uphill on leaving the station.

A replacement for the Forth Road Bridge, which could be declared unsafe by 2018 due to overuse and corrosion, is also likely to be a priority for both parties.

The Scottish Executive has not formally committed to the plans yet, but is looking into the option of private finance for the bridge.

Transport Scotland, the Executive's agency for building new infrastructure, is drawing up the different options for rail improvement across Scotland.

Scotland's Railways, Transport Scotland's study into rail priorities, will be published in a few weeks and will cover projects from 2012 to 2022. It will include expert assessments of routes feasible for a central Scotland express and electrification options.

Transport is set to be one of the most controversial issues in the election campaign next year.

The SNP recently turned against the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link, warning that the costs could rise to as much 1 billion.

SNP transport spokesman Fergus Ewing claimed the plans could land taxpayers with a bill for hundreds of millions of pounds. He has said the money would be better spent on upgrading Scotland's roads.

Broken rail sparks train chaos

A BROKEN rail at Edinburgh Park plunged train services into chaos during the rush hour peak last night.

Rail workers were called in to mend the track at 4.10pm, forcing services to run at a reduced rate. Trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow ran every half-hour, rather than their usual quarter-hourly departures, while trains to Bathgate and Dunblane were reduced to hourly services.

A spokesman for First ScotRail said it was unclear what had caused the fault in the line, but added that operator Network Rail had shut down the section of track before clamping the broken line in place and fixing it.

He added: "The whole line was closed for about an hour before any trains were allowed to run at a reduced capacity."

All services were expected to be running as usual today.