NEWS RELEASE:

Rail Revolution for Edinburgh

24th February 1998

TRANSform Scotland today unveiled a range of improvements to rail services into and across Edinburgh that would revolutionise travel opportunities by rail. The proposals build on the existing CROSSRAIL scheme and throw down the gauntlet to the Scottish Office.

The scheme would open up 22 new stations, 54 miles of track and give the people of the east of Scotland the rail service they deserve. Central to the proposals is a new station for the Parliament at Holyrood. This will be served by existing and new services from the north and west of Edinburgh running through to destinations in Midlothian , East Lothian and the Borders.

TRANSform Scotland Chairman David Spaven said:

"This is a great opportunity for the Scottish Office to demonstrate its commitment to the Government's new transport agenda. We believe that this scheme offers excellent value for money compared to the road building budget and it will give Edinburgh a rail service equal to that of similar European cities and fit for the 21st century."

CROSSRAIL will proceed in three phases to be completed in 2000, 2002 and 2005. New stations would serve towns such as Loanhead, Dalkeith, Galashiels and Haddington. Enhanced services from west and central Scotland and new rail routes to Leven, St. Andrews and Culross in Fife will all create a vast range of new journey opportunities and allow many thousands of motorists to transfer to rail. This will reduce congestion and pollution throughout the East of Scotland.

David Spaven adds:

"Our proposals aim to bring together the major players, local authorities and the Scottish Office with ScotRail and Railtrack to plan and implement new services. The privatised railway companies are showing a 'can do' attitude and we are looking for a lead from the Scottish Office. We want to see a similar level of enthusiasm for rail as has historically been shown for road building. This is especially important as the latest government reports show that new roads can, rather than benefit, harm the economy."

TRANSform Scotland have written to Transport Minister Henry McLeish asking for a meeting to discuss the Edinburgh CROSSRAIL proposals.

The new stations and routes to be opened in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders during the 3 phases of the CROSSRAIL project are:

Year 2000 - Phase 1: includes the Holyrood station on a new route to Millerhill and new services to Dunbar.

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Year 2002 - Phase 2: extends the Millerhill service to Gorebridge, introduces a Loanhead service and a major Edinburgh Parkway station in East Lothian.

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Year 2005 - Phase 3: extends to Galashiels and Newtown St Boswells in the Borders, Haddington in East Lothian and Corstorphine.

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Notes: enhanced routes and new stations from the west of Edinburgh and Fife are not shown but will form part of the project.