Restore the direct rail link between Perth and Halbeath is the call from Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser today in a Scottish Government Debate on Transforming Scotland’s railways.
The reinstatement of the new route could cut journey times by up to 35 minutes.
In the debate the Conservative MSP stated that costs could be reduced by using the expertise used to construct the new Borders rail line.
Murdo also criticised the slow pace of improvements to the Highland Mainline that was promised by the SNP back in 2008.
Extracts from Speech (Check against delivery):
“As the gateway to the Highlands, Perth is perfectly situated to take full advantage of a variety of economic opportunities.
“As mentioned earlier, rail journeys between Perth and Edinburgh are slower today than they were before the First World War. This is not progress by any stretch of the imagination.
“Outwith commuters and businesses, faster links between Perth and Edinburgh could open up significant new tourist revenue as the city would become a leading destination for day-trippers.
“Perth station is centrally situated and has the capacity to handle more travelers if given the opportunity.
“A direct rail link between Perth and Inverkeithing was mooted in the 2008 Strategic Transport Projects Review, however significant financial and mechanical hurdles dented its progress.
“However, I believe a slightly amended plan to link Perth and Halbeath would have the potential to reduce journey times to Edinburgh by 35 minutes and would be less costly as it would avoid the expensive tunnelling required in a new link between Halbeath and Inverkeithing. There would be a knock-on reduction on journey times to Inverness and the north. And trains up the east coast to Aberdeen could be re-routed via Perth with a consequent time saving.
“Clearly there would be a capital cost to this plan, but as with any large scale infrastructure project economies of scale will reduce costs. Utilising the expertise used to construct the new Borders Railway on a project between Halbeath and Perth, could decrease costs substantially.
“I would like to see this project included within the Scottish Government’s third National Performance Framework.”
On Highland Mainline
“The SNP motion today is full of congratulations, but improvements to the Highland Mainline provide a black hole of broken SNP promises.
“Back in 2008 the First Minister committed his government to improving, by 2012, the journey time between Inverness and Edinburgh by 35 minutes - it’s 2013 it’s still a single track, it’s still not electrified and it still takes longer than he promised.
“When will the SNP honour the pledges it made to the people of the Highlands and actually improve the Highland Mainline Service?
“The public increasingly feel that the SNP has developed a central belt bias which is holding back transport developments north of Perth. Scotland deserves a first class rail network - not the second class ticket offered by Alex Salmond and the SNP.”