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Railwatch 075 - April 1998

Scotland

By David Hansen

The news from Scotland is mostly good at the moment, which is a welcome change. The railway companies and all concerned are to be congratulated. Two railway development managers have been appointed, funded by Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Railtrack, EWS and ScotRail. Their task is to promote new business in the Highlands, both passenger and freight.

New freight facilities and services In an expression of confidence in the future a new siding has been provided at Kyle of Lochalsh in anticipation of freight traffic. One of the more convoluted freight journeys takes pulp from Aberdeen to Corpach, via Mossend. This makes use of the Enterprise service, an updated version of the old Speedlink service. Other services have carried potatoes to Selby, Ely and Cornwall. EWS is also carrying containers of paper to Ely, Purfleet and Dagenham.

Carriage of Norfrost freezers from Georgemas Junction will be increased when the company opens a new depot in England. The investment at Georgemas has produced modern freight facilities in this beautiful corner of Scotland. If it can be done in this part of the Highlands, competing with an A9 "upgraded" with untold amounts of taxpayer's money, it is surely possible to provide freight facilities across the country. EWS in Scotland has increased freight traffic by around 10% since privatisation, leaving out coal which fluctuates wildly.

New services and lines A new service is the 07.50 Dingwall to Inverness allowing commuters to get to Inverness. The Larkhall and Anniesland to Maryhill curve projects are being developed in conjunction with Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority. A new 100-space car park is being built at Bathgate. Dalgety Bay station should open on 29 March. There is much enthusiasm for an Edinburgh Crossrail project, extending local services through to Millerhill, which would make an ideal park-and-ride site on the city bypass. This was suggested by RDS members and the Capital Rail Action Group and could form a first stage of reopening the Waverley Route.

For visitors there is the welcome news that the Freedom of Scotland ticket is being reduced from £110 to £93. ScotRail is also working on joint ticketing with buses in some of the more remote areas.

Scottish Parliament The Scottish Secretary, in his infinite wisdom, has selected a site at Holyrood which is not as bad in transport terms as Leith, but is not as good as the alternatives at Calton Hill or Haymarket. Endeavouring to make the best of this there is enthusiasm for a station at Abbeyhill, a few minutes' walk from the Parliament, to be served by Crossrail trains. Unfortunately, at the time of writing it is still intended to control Scottish railways from London, unlike all other forms of transport. It would be a major mistake if this is put into practice and it perhaps shows how little priority transport has in the thinking of the Government.

RDS Scotland AGM will take place on the 28 March or 4 April. Our speaker will be talking about the Scottish Parliament.

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