End of the line looms for transport plan

Published on Sunday 27 May 2007 00:44

THE First Minister has given a clear hint he is to ditch plans for a proposed Edinburgh tram system and air link, comparing the spending on both to the ill-fated Scottish Parliament project.

Alex Salmond is expected to announce the new SNP government's decision on the policy as early as this week, amid widespread expectation the 1.1bn plans will be axed.

Last week, Salmond told MSPs that he had "deep misgivings" about the schemes, which, if built, promise to transform the public transport network in the capital.

He has now promised to publish new information that shows the costs are already spiralling well beyond budget.

Salmond said: "There is a significant amount of information, which will be new to the Parliament in terms of how much money would be spent."

In a clear reference to the ill-fated 410m Holyrood Parliament building, he added: "It would not be the first construction project in the world to run over budget."

Salmond is also preparing to publish details of the 100m that has already been spent on the plans. He claims he and his ministers have been taken aback by how so much money has already been spent to little effect. As a result, the SNP now looks ever more keen to press ahead with its alternative plans, likely to involve an increase in investment in bus travel, and a new 'spur' taking passengers from the main Edinburgh-Glasgow rail line to the airport. The attempt to link the two transport projects with the Scottish Parliament disaster will be seen as a clear bid by the SNP to win over the Edinburgh public if the schemes are cancelled.

The rail link has been priced at 610m, largely because a tunnel needs to be built underneath the railway to connect the rail line to the airport terminal. SNP ministers have described such a tunnel as "bonkers".

The trams scheme, priced at 500m, is backed by business leaders as the best way to reduce the congestion choking the city. However, the SNP argues that it would be cheaper and better to improve bus services.

Local MSPs are still urging Salmond to think again, insisting the tram scheme in particular is necessary to prevent gridlock in the capital.

Independent MSP Margo MacDonald said: "The SNP need to look further than their noses. Already there are 50 buses an hour going down Princes Street. If we were to ditch the trams then that goes up to 60 an hour. I have to accept evidence from the continent that car drivers don't give up their cars for buses but they do for trams."

As well as writing off the 100m that has already been spent on the two projects, the SNP may also have to pay an estimated 10m in compensation costs if it reversed the decision to go ahead.