Written Question · S2W-13095 · Session 2
Further to the answer to question S2W-12429 by Nicol Stephen on 8 December 2004, whether it has any plans to extend, improve or otherwise a…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12429 by Nicol Stephen on 8 December 2004, whether it has any plans to extend, improve or otherwise affect the rail network north of the central belt at any time before 2007 and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
The answer
The Executive supports a number of on-going railway projects north of the central belt, reflecting our commitment to improving the rail system across Scotland. These are at various stages of development and include:
Commitments in First ScotRail’s franchise to invest £40 million forimprovements for rail passengers across the whole of Scotland and throughout the seven year life of the franchise. Half of this amount will be spent on upgrading stations; £2.4 million of which is for enhanced facilities at the four largest stations, including Aberdeen.
Freight Facilities Grants to increase the capacity of the rail freight yard atGeorgemas in Caithness and the building of a new rail freight facility at Dyce, enabling aviation fuel to be supplied to Aberdeen Airport by rail.
The Stirling to Alloa to Kincardine (SAK) Railway Scheme will reintroducepassenger services between Stirling and Alloa and freight services to Kincardine Power Station. SAK has the added benefit of taking heavy freight away from the busy Glasgow-Edinburgh and Forth Bridge lines, allowing improved and more reliablepassenger services within the central belt and into Fife and beyond.
A number of additional projects awarded funding from the first four rounds of the Public Transport Fund are identified in the regional leaflets associated withthe Scottish Executive transport delivery report, Scotland's Transport:Delivering Improvements, published in March 2002, available at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/transport/stdi-00.asp.Those projects receiving awards under the fifth and final round of the PublicTransport Fund were announced on 14 November 2002:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2002/11/SEET181.aspx. The relevant authorities in receipt of grant are responsible for delivery of these projects.
Additionally, there are ongoing feasibility studies into Aberdeen Crossrail, Laurencekirk Station and the Gauge Enhancement of lines in the north-east to permit passage of larger freight trains.
Commitments in First ScotRail’s franchise to invest £40 million forimprovements for rail passengers across the whole of Scotland and throughout the seven year life of the franchise. Half of this amount will be spent on upgrading stations; £2.4 million of which is for enhanced facilities at the four largest stations, including Aberdeen.
Freight Facilities Grants to increase the capacity of the rail freight yard atGeorgemas in Caithness and the building of a new rail freight facility at Dyce, enabling aviation fuel to be supplied to Aberdeen Airport by rail.
The Stirling to Alloa to Kincardine (SAK) Railway Scheme will reintroducepassenger services between Stirling and Alloa and freight services to Kincardine Power Station. SAK has the added benefit of taking heavy freight away from the busy Glasgow-Edinburgh and Forth Bridge lines, allowing improved and more reliablepassenger services within the central belt and into Fife and beyond.
A number of additional projects awarded funding from the first four rounds of the Public Transport Fund are identified in the regional leaflets associated withthe Scottish Executive transport delivery report, Scotland's Transport:Delivering Improvements, published in March 2002, available at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/transport/stdi-00.asp.Those projects receiving awards under the fifth and final round of the PublicTransport Fund were announced on 14 November 2002:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2002/11/SEET181.aspx. The relevant authorities in receipt of grant are responsible for delivery of these projects.
Additionally, there are ongoing feasibility studies into Aberdeen Crossrail, Laurencekirk Station and the Gauge Enhancement of lines in the north-east to permit passage of larger freight trains.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-13095 by reference.