Major improvements needed to Highland main line, says Grant
Highland MSP, Rhoda Grant is calling for major Highland main line improvements from the Scottish Government.
She has written to the Scottish Government Transport Minister seeking a commitment that major capacity and speed upgrades to the line, connecting Inverness with Edinburgh/Glasgow, will be completed before 2025 with electrification before 2030.
The issue was raised earlier this month by Inverness rail campaigner Richard Ardern of Friends of the Far North Line (FoFNL) during a meeting of the Cross Party Group on Rail in the Scottish Parliament, and Mrs Grant is now seeking firm commitments from the Scottish Government over the improvement plans.
Ms Grant said: “Whilst the dualling of the A9 is a welcome step, we know that it will mean years of travel disruption for many motorists whilst works on the project take place.
“However, this does present a great opportunity for rail travel and transport to step in and provide alternative travel between the Highlands and the central belt rather than via the A9. With HML improvements completed we could see travel between Inverness and Edinburgh/Glasgow cut to around the 2 hours 45 minutes mark.
“From an environmental point of view, I am eager to see as much passenger and freight traffic as possible make the move from road to rail over the next decade and whilst the A9 dualling project is taking place rail travel offers a realistic alternative.
“The Scottish Government should now commit to providing major capacity and speed improvements before 2025 with electrification of the line before 2030. Only by doing this can they ensure that we encourage a shift of passengers and freight to rail during the A9 works and the retention of these groups on rail after completion.
“If these vital rail improvements on the HML are not completed prior to the A9 works being completed we run the risk of missing out an a great opportunity to cut carbon emissions.
“Given that the Scottish Government has failed to meet its climate change target for the fourth year in a row it should take every step it can to ensure we cut carbon by moving more travel in Scotland from road to rail.”
