New Forth crossing to carry trains

Published on Sunday 29 January 2006 01:39

THE new Forth bridge will include a railway line and bus lanes in an effort to boost the green credentials of the £1bn crossing, under the Executive's plans.

Ministers also believe that the Forth Rail Bridge may be being placed under too much strain because of increasing amounts of freight being carried by rail. Executive ministers have found themselves forced to act on an extra crossing by new warnings over corrosion in the cables holding up the Forth Road Bridge.

It is believed that the cables' condition is so severe that the road bridge will have to close by 2019 unless it can be closed for three years for repairs.

Ministers have ordered a report on the condition of the road bridge to be drawn up by independent experts.

But Labour has already agreed to a combined road and rail bridge in a policy document which has been drawn up in preparation for the 2007 Scottish Parliament election.

Labour policy planners opted for a road and rail bridge including bus lanes prior to the warning about the road bridge's safety. The decision was taken amid concerns that both the rail and road links were running over their capacity.

However, it is understood that the policy recommendation will be brought forward by the Executive, as the need for a decision over a bridge replacement is more urgent than previously thought.

A Labour insider said: "We wanted to build a multi-modal second crossing at some time anyway, but events mean that we have to take that decision now rather than later.

"It will be a road bridge with bus lanes and with rails. Jack [McConnell] wants it that way because it gives the project environmental credentials."