Railway to get passenger rise

Rail passenger numbers in Edinburgh are expected to soar in the next two decades, according to a Network Rail report.

The draft Scotland Route Utilisation Strategy (Generation Two) suggested the growing popularity of rail travel will see passenger numbers on some Scottish routes more than double up to 2025.

Passenger numbers in the Glasgow area are predicted to increase by up to 38 per cent by 2025, while passenger growth in Edinburgh is anticipated to grow by 90 to 115 per cent.

The report also sets out recommendations to help keep pace with the growing popularity of rail, including new services on a number of lines, additional services on routes between Fife and North Berwick and Edinburgh, and running earlier trains between Glasgow and Edinburgh.