At least 11 rail stations at risk after minister refuses to rule out closures
Keith Brown: not ruling out closing train stations. Picture: Neil Hanna
SCOTLAND’s Transport Minister Keith Brown has not ruled out closing train stations as part of a review on the future of the railways.
Mr Brown was pressed in Holyrood yesterday to rule out closures but said the Scottish Government is still considering responses to the Rail 2014 consultation which closed on Monday.
The consultation identifies 11 stations in the Glasgow commuter area located less than one mile from another station, with leases totalling £208,000.
It seeks views on how the Scottish Government should “determine what rail stations are required and where, including whether a station should be closed”.
Labour infrastructure spokesman Richard Baker said the consultation “calls into question the future of 11 railway stations in and around the city”.
He said: “The trade unions are in no way comforted by statements by the minister that these are just proposals.”
He added: “The minister refused to reject the proposition outright.
“He said there are no plans to close the stations. He has reiterated that in his motion today.
“But of course, we remember in the last parliament his predecessor announcing that there were no plans to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project, and only a week later the SNP did exactly that.”
Mr Baker sought clarification that “as long as the minister is in office, none of these 11 stations will close”.
Mr Brown responded: “We have no plans to close these stations but we do have to listen to the consultation.”
However, Mr Brown’s SNP colleague James Dornan, whose constituency includes the Cathcart Circle line, went a step further and said no stations would be closed.
He said: “Labour know, I know and the public know that there is no, never was and won’t be any closures of state train stations throughout Glasgow.”
Mr Baker said the SNP’s claims have been “undermined” as their own “regional members in Glasgow have also been issuing leaflets under the banner Save Our Stations”.
He said: “While the minister may be adamant that there is no threat to these stations, evidently he had failed to reassure his own backbenchers in Glasgow on this very point.”
Leaflets featuring a photo of Nationalist candidates John Letford and Francis Scally with SNP MSP Bob Doris were circulated in the Glasgow Maryhill/Kelvin council ward, pledging to protect local stations from “potential closure”.
But an SNP spokeswoman said “it is not true” that SNP backbenchers have been handing out Save Our Stations leaflets.
She said: “There were two candidates in Glasgow who put out leaflets in a state of ignorance.” Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said: “To look at Glasgow’s suburban rail network and consider that for cuts is unacceptable. Demand for these services in recent times has never been greater and they deserve our support.”
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Comments
There are 23 comments to this article
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Billy Boy
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 05:36 AMDoes the person in the heading picture really control Scotlands Transportation system? The only way public transportation can be successful, is to be convenient. In high density population areas there needs to be more and easier access. NOT LESS!
mahatmacoat
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 09:17 PM#21..Dr Beeching was a Tory..SNP are a right wing party, hence the railways hatchet.
L C Y
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 05:37 PMI can't believe I'm reading this item - it has taken me back to an earlier time when it was a Labour madman who decimated the railways system - Dr Beeching. Why is it that other countries, no larger than ours, can run excellent rail systems ……. don't SNP destroy again ……...
Buford Van Stomm
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 04:21 PM5 New Unionism In paris you are never more than 500 metres from a metro station.....seems to work for them.
jkwilso
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 03:24 PMBrings you to the point of despondency. The best Little (small minded ) country in the world. The only reason we dont need trains is because nobody goes to work anymore, Go on....... destroy the infrastructure build another Forth bridge, Trams to nowhere, cancel the Hovercraft, eliminate our football teams, promote windmills, tax supermarkets, fine fishermen for making a living in the furthest corners of the globe. stop smoking, drinking and any other type of enjoyment........any one know what we are actually doing in this country to make it better. Maybe A.S. could print a list of things we are going to promote. Sick and tired of watching us going to the dogs.
MOCO
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:23 AMThere should be less stations but more halts. That could be achieved by converting most of the Glasgow suburban network to light rail.
Jimmyharkins
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:21 AMThe Cathcart Circle should be converted to a TramTrain line similar to that in Kassel, the closeness of stations is an advantage to this mode which will be up and running soon in England. With TramTrain, the vehicle can leave the traditional heavy rail line and run in the street just like a tram. SPt considered it sometime ago but imaginatively left the report on a shelf - it is time to dust down and get on with it
ACM
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 10:33 AMCould the reviews and consultations ever come up with the correct result. Did they not hold ones before spending money on the new station at Kelvindale, Glasgow which is now considered for closure.
The View from Salisbury Crags
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 10:33 AMHave we learned nothing from Beeching? This is nonsense and Brown had better start talking to his colleagues rather than promoting Transport Scotland's plans for rail closures when as is clear enhancing the effective provision of rail services and the use thereof is a priority. Why not try a bit of creative route planning and timing as well as some advertising?? I much preferred Stewart Stevenson as transport minister - he was really quite positive and enthusiastic about his job unlike Brown who also looks as if he needs to take some exercise and climb out of the ministerial car. At least his predecessor used and continues to use the trains which they are both supposed to be promoting!!
Jolly
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 10:17 AMAnother disaastrous transport idea! Welcome to Scotland !
famous15
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 10:07 AMIt's strange how matters are different when you read the article carefully.Ruling out or ruling in sounds like a dance for Mr Baker.
Saltire
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 09:43 AM“There were two candidates in Glasgow who put out leaflets in a state of ignorance.” Business as usual for the SNP then.
Intervention
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 09:08 AMAnother scare story from Richard Baker who has never been elected by anyone since his days in the NUS. His track record is appalling and no one would miss him if he was closed down..
Danielrober2
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 08:39 AMThese old stations where built by people who really knew their stuff. Closing them down is not a sensible option, as reopening as we have all found out is a massively expensive operation. Caution and a hard search for alternative plans really is the order of the day. Incidentally its not about distances, but density in proportion to distances equations which need to be used. These equations offer a more positive view of public transport and in value depth (in these fashionable days of posting insults I hope this positive contribution can return us all to details and policy, rather than decades old grievances).
Martin H
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 08:19 AMGlasgow has the nearest thing to an integrated public transport system, and it would be catastrophic to contemplate closure of rail stations, it would have the long term effect of reversing the renaissance seen throughout Scotland in commuter rail travel. Closing commuter rail stations makes as much sense as removing bus stops, it is a frankly stupid notion. As for post 1, well Mr Linskaill should perhaps understand that not everyone is as fit and mobile as he, and no, not everyone does have functional legs, and removing rail stations would be seen as another discrimination against disabled people.
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