New high-speed rail line 'must include Scotland'

SCOTLAND must not be left out of plans for a new high-speed rail line, Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP John Barrett warned today.

He said not including Scotland would go down as a huge missed opportunity. All the major parties at Westminster have now given their support for a high-speed link, although there is uncertainty about how far north the rail line would stretch.

The official government-backed report on high-speed rail is due to be published in March.

Mr Barrett said: "A high-speed rail link that did not include a spur to Scotland would go down as a huge missed opportunity.

"In other European countries where they already have high-speed rail they will tell you that their biggest regret was that they did not go further and include more major cities in the route."

Mike Crockart, the Lib Dem candidate to succeed Mr Barrett at the coming general election, said it was time for a commitment from politicians on all sides to a high-speed future for Scotland.