Railwatch is the quarterly magazine of Railfuture, which is free to members.
Non-members can subscribe to Railwatch, receiving it by post.
SubscribeSlow progress The Edinburgh CrossRail scheme now has full funding and is going ahead. The Larkhall scheme is still being delayed, it seems to have enemies in high places.
No progress Edinburgh Park station exists in the timetable, with time allowed for trains to stop, but on the ground not a single brick exists. This station was intended to be built on its own, but the council wrapped it up in its ill-conceived guided bus scheme. Th~s should have been running last year. RDS has campaigned for years to unwrap the station from guided buses, with no success.
No visible progress The railway line to the Borders has high public support and party politicians will not criticise it in public. However their actions reveal a different story. Despite £2.5million to investigate sustainable transport, Midlothian Council has adopted a road-based transport strategy, with turning the A701 into a dual carriageway being its main plank. Money does not grow on trees and party politicians need to decide whether they want a railway, or more road building. The Scottish government failed spectacularly on this issue, by failing to call a public enquiry into the road, thus preventing a democratic discussion of all the issues. Our Transport and Environment Minister has lost a lot of friends by this crass and incompetent decision.
Some progress Around Scotland a number of small improvements are being made, so all is not doom and gloom. The operators say that for major improvements to services additional infrastructure is needed. Funding this infrastructure is a problem. The Scottish Parliament has accepted three inflation-busting increases in road building, while railway funding remains patchy.
Note: contact details (postal and email addresses, along with telephone numbers) in old editions of Railwatch out of date. Click CONTACT US for latest contact details.
[Railwatch Home] [Prev Issue (83)] [Railwatch Issues] [RIS Progress Reports] [SRUBLUK Progress Reports] [Next Issue (85)] [Railfuture Home]
Rail users are encouraged to join Railfuture to help us campaign for a bigger and better railway - membership for individuals is just £20 per year
Railfuture is an independent, voluntary group representing rail users in Britain with 20,000 affiliated and individual members. It is not funded by train companies, political parties or trade unions, and all members have an equal say.
Railfuture campaigns for cheap and convenient rail services for everyone; better links for buses, bikes and pedestrians; policies to get more heavy lorries on to rail; new lines, stations and freight terminals. In short, a better rail service and a bigger rail system for both passengers and freight.
Railfuture is pro-rail but not anti-road or anti-air. However, we campaign for a switch from road and air to rail. We do not interfere in the running of the railway - we campaign for the quality and range of services provided, not how they are delivered. We are the only champion of all rail users.
Railfuture is the campaigning name of Railfuture Ltd.
A not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee.
Registered in England and Wales No. 05011634.
Registered Office: Edinburgh House, 1-5 Bellevue Road, Clevedon, North Somerset BS21 7NP (for legal correspondence only).
All other correspondence to 14 Ghent Field Circle, Thurston, Suffolk IP31 3UP
© Copyright Railfuture Ltd 2024.
Railfuture is happy for extracts to be used by journalists, researchers and students. We would, however, appreciate a mention of Railfuture in any article, website or programme. Except with Railfuture's express written permission, no one should distribute or commercially exploit the content.
Privacy Statement
Click Privacy to read Railfuture's GDPR statement on how we treat your data.08.03.2024
This site does not use its own cookies, although Google Analytics does. Hosted by TSO Host (cPanel) and maintained for Railfuture by Billing Specialists Ltd.