National railways plan to be published on Monday: will Scotland's rail network be stuck in a siding?In advance of the publication this coming Monday (14/01/02) of the Strategic Rail Authority's "Strategic Plan" for the UK's railways, TRANSform Scotland have raised concerns that Scotland will not get its fair share of investment, with investment being skewed to the south-east of England. The SRA's Strategic Plan will set out investment priorities for the railways in the UK over the next ten years. However press reports (e.g. Financial Times 10/01/02 "Improvement plans likely to focus on the south-east") have suggested that the SRA is unlikely to treat Scotland as high priority. This follows Railtrack's decision to suspend work on four projects in Scotland. (1) Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager, said: "If press reports prove to be true, then Scotland will lose out in spending commitments to the south-east of England. The Strategic Rail Authority appears happy to leave Scotland's long-awaited rail projects stuck in a siding." "Government has expended much hot air talking about projects such as the Larkhall link and the Stirling-Alloa-Dunfermline reopening yet we are no closer to any of these projects actually happening. This situation is not helped by the London-based Strategic Rail Authority deciding to prioritise spending on the south-east of England ahead of the rest of the UK." ENDS Notes to Editors: (1) 'Rail' magazine (26/12/01-08/01/02) reported that Railtrack had pulled out of the following four projects: (i) Larkhall line; (ii) Stirling-Alloa-Dunfermline reopening; (iii) Gourock transport interchange, and (iv) Aberdeen Crossrail project. A Railtrack spokesperson was quoted as saying that "no other [Railtrack] zones other than Scotland had decided to pull out of any projects at this stage." (2) TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign, bringing together 65 organisations - including transport operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, chambers of commerce and local transport groups - interested in transport, the environment and a sustainable Scotland. We can be contacted at 72 Newhaven Road, Edinburgh, EH6 5QG. Tel.: 0131-467-7714; Fax: 0131-554-8656; e-mail: campaigns@transformscotland.org.uk; web: http://www.transformscotland.org.uk END OF NEWS RELEASE |