Highlands MSP raises question on airport bus shuttle
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Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain has asked the Scottish Government when the proposed Inverness Airport Rail Station will be completed.
He made the request for information during a session of Portfolio Questions at Holyrood.
The Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson confirmed that the project “is being progressed as planned” before stating that “Transport Scotland will be in a position to confirm the starting and opening date once Network Rail has completed its feasibility work and third party funding has been secured”.
Mr Mountain pointed out that “the planning permission is about to lapse because it should have been built already”.
He then asked: “As the proposed new station is over a mile away from the airport, will the price of a train ticket to Dalcross include free travel to the airport on the shuttle bus?”
Mr Mountain said no assurances were provided to this question.
He is now concerned that HIAL, who plan to operate the shuttle bus service, will charge air passengers for the one mile trip to and from the airport.
Mr Mountain MSP commented: “Given that the new station is a mile away from the airport, I am deeply concerned that no assurances were given on the issue of a free shuttle bus between the airport and the new station.
"However, I am pleased that this project is now back on the Scottish Government’s agenda despite the fact that it should have been completed this year.
"We have seen this Scottish Government dither and delay on infrastructure projects in the Highlands before, with the long-delayed new prison in Inverness a prime example.
"That cannot be allowed be allowed to happen with another key project in the Highlands.”
