HIGH SPEED PROPOSAL WELCOME, BUT NORTH-EAST MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN

Following reports that Network Rail has proposed a new £34 billion high-speed railway line linking London and Scotland by 2030, SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed the proposals.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said.

“The SNP has previously pressured the UK Government for assurances that any future high speed rail project would be continued into Scotland. It is crucial not only for our economic but also our environmental goals and the proposed link from network rail would certainly compete with flying.

“However the proposal still requires to be approved by the UK Government, who have been vague in the past as to their intentions of high speed links reaching Scotland. I sincerely hope that UK Transport Minister Lord Adonis ensures that this link is stretched past the Midlands providing Scotland with the benefits that this improved infrastructure will offer.

“The current proposals only take the high speed link as far as Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is imperative for the North-east that the network is expanded to Aberdeen, and I would urge Network Rail to include this in their plans. In the meantime further thought needs to be given as to how existing links from the Central Belt can be upgraded to take advantage of the proposed new links.”