Rail bosses cautious on new plans

TRANSPORT bosses have welcomed plans to improve rail services between Edinburgh and Glasgow but have raised concerns about the threat to other parts of the network.

Regional transport body SEStran gave its backing to work on the 300 million Airdrie-Bathgate line, which is due to open in December, and the 1 billion package of improvements to cut journey times between Edinburgh and Glasgow to 37 minutes.

But it said uncertainty about the future stopping pattern for intermediate stations such as Falkirk High, Polmont and Linlithgow, and the possibility of no additional services to Dunblane/Alloa, made it less certain that adequate additional rail capacity would be created in future years.

Councillor Russell Imrie, SEStran chairman, said: "The projects to improve rail services to the west of Edinburgh will deliver major benefits

"However, we must not overlook potentially less positive effects they may have on capacity improvements in some areas."

He said he was particularly disappointed at the decision not to go ahead with a new station at Winchburgh.