 |
NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday 18th April 2007
SCOTLAND'S RAILWAYS:
Campaign group sets out priorities for action for the incoming Scottish
Executive
TRANSform Scotland [1] has today (Wednesday 18th
April 2007) published a paper outlining priorities for revitalising Scotland's
rail network that should be taken forward by the incoming Scottish Executive.
[2]
Colin Howden, Director of TRANSform Scotland said:
"At the end of 2006, transport minister Tavish Scott said that
Scotland's railways are one of our most valuable assets. He was right,
but more needs to be done to realise the full potential of our railways
following the systematic under-investment of the last 40 years.
"As well as relieving road congestion and offering substantially
safer travel, rail has significant environmental advantages over road
and air transport. If the political parties are serious about tackling
climate change, enforcing targets for reducing carbon emissions, then
greater and more strategic investment into rail travel must be a priority.
"This doesn't mean fantasy ideas about 'bullet trains'. It means
continued investment by the next Scottish Executive into the existing
infrastructure - making inter-urban journey times competitive with the
car, encouraging a shift from air to rail for short-haul travel, and further
provision for rail freight over road haulage."
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] TRANSform Scotland
TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance,
bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities,
national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport
groups.
We can be contacted at Lamb's House, Burgess Street, Leith, Edinburgh,
EH6 6RD. Tel 0131 467 7714; fax 0131 554 8656; email <info@transformscotland.org.uk>;
web <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk>.
[2] 'Scotland's rail system: Gearing up to drive the low-carbon economy'
The briefing paper, 'Scotland's rail system: Gearing up to drive the low-carbon
economy' can be found at <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/info/docs/2007-04-18_railways.pdf>.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
|
|
