Highlands MSP hits out at delay to Inverness Airport rail station plan
A Highlands MSP has slammed the Scottish Government for 'dragging its heels' on a major transport infrastructure project in the region.
Regional Scottish Labour MSP David Stewart singled out the long overdue completion of Dalcross railway station which will serve Inverness Airport.
Last month Network Rail submitted plans to Highland Council for a double-platform station at the site to provide better connectivity for the region's busiest airport.
Mr Stewart, a long-time campaigner for the airport rail link, has pointed to his previous calls for the Scottish Government to prioritise the development of the site back to 2014.
Responding to a Parliamentary Question from Mr Stewart, the then Scottish Government Transport Secretary Keith Brown confirming that 'the package of works remains on schedule for completion by March 2019'.
Mr Stewart said: “Whilst I am pleased to see progress at last from Network Rail and partners, the Scottish Government has been dragging its heels for nearly a decade now in delivering Dalcross rail station.
"This development is an absolutely vital part of delivering better and more integrated transport connectivity in the Highlands.
“Inverness is the region's busiest airport and stakeholders have been crying out for this rail link for years.
"The Scottish Government have been promising completion by March 2019 at least, so it’s almost three years overdue now. It’s simply not good enough.
“If the Scottish Government are serious about protecting the Highland economy, delivering much needed transport connectivity, and tackling the climate change emergency they need to get a handle on projects like this and stop making promises they can’t keep.”
