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Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG)
NEWS RELEASE
Friday 30th March 2007
REOPENING THE EDINBURGH SOUTH SUBURBAN RAILWAY
Call for the Scottish Executive to take action
The Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) [1] has today (Friday
30th March) called on the Scottish Executive to reopen the Edinburgh South
Suburban Railway, the 'missing link' in an effective transport system
for the city.
As part of the campaign, CRAG are launching a petition in the Parliament.
[2] TRANSform Scotland, the sustainable transport alliance, have
also published a briefing paper supporting the case for the line's reinstatement
as a passenger railway.[3]
The South Sub which already has cross-party support as well as backing
from public transport campaigners, business leaders and community groups,
would give Edinburgh residents a fast and efficient alternative to cross-city
car and bus journeys.
Cllr. Lawrence Marshall, spokesperson for CRAG, said:
"The line's closure to passengers forty-five years ago has meant
that people living and working in the Southside of the city have had to
rely on buses for local public transport. The re-opening of the South
Sub would transform cross-city travel, providing a rail link to Waverley
and the planned interchange at Haymarket - at very little cost.
"We are now looking for organisations across south-east Scotland
to lend their support to the campaign to reopen the South Sub."
Paul Tetlaw, Chair of TRANSform Scotland said:
"Multiple reports have shown the economic, social and environmental
benefits of reinstating passenger rail services to the South Sub but as
yet there has been no movement from the Scottish Executive. After nearly
twenty years of talk, it's time for action."
The campaign is being launched in advance of Saturday's operation of passenger
rail services round the South Sub, which are being diverted from their
normal route through Haymarket because of engineering works. [4]
ENDS
[1] The Capital Rail Action Group <http://www.capitalrail.org.uk>
campaigns for better public transport, especially railway development,
in the Edinburgh area. The Chair, Paul Tetlaw is also Chair of TRANSform
Scotland <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk>.
[2] CRAG's petition in support of the reopening of the 'South Sub' can
be found at <http://www.reopenthesouthsub.org.uk>.
[3] A copy of TRANSform Scotland's briefing 'Reopening the South
Sub: getting passengers back on the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway'
can be found at: <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/info/docs/2007-03-30_ESSR.pdf>
[4] The trains running round the South Sub this Saturday are those going
to/from Bathgate and Glasgow Central via Shotts. The former will stop
at Edinburgh Park while the latter will stop at Slateford for folk to
get back into town. Cheap Day Return tickets and Family Funday tickets
will make this an easy and cheap way for individuals and familes to see
the South Sub for themselves.
* Train times from Waverley to Edinburgh Park (Bathgate service):
0648, 0726, 0829, 0847, 0922, 0940, 1017, 1044, 1114, 1145, 1217, 1242,
1321, 1346, 1418, 1447, 1516, 1541, 1614, 1640, 1711, 1740, 1815, 1840,
1940, 2047 and 2145
* Train times from Waverley to Slateford (Glasgow Central service):
1008, 1108, 1212, 1308, 1412, 1510, 1605, 1705, 1808, 2009 and 2108
END OF NEWS RELEASE
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