Putting foot down for faster rail links

Published on Tuesday 9 June 2009 10:06

TRANSPORT minister Stewart Stevenson has unveiled a new team charged with developing the business case for extending high-speed rail links between Edinburgh and London.

Speaking during a major conference in the Capital yesterday, Mr Stevenson said the economic evidence would be submitted to High Speed Two (HS2), the company formed to progress UK high-speed links, and will be used to press the case for Scotland.

He said: "High-speed rail links between Scotland and England present fantastic economic and environmental opportunities for Scotland. Faster journey times could provide significant benefits to Scotland's economy, improving connections and opening up new opportunities.

"Cutting journey times between Scotland and London to the three-hour mark would offer direct competition with air travel, and could result in substantial carbon emissions savings."

The new track would allow trains to travel at speeds in excess of 180mph.