Media centre

Tuesday 1 Sep 2009

GOGAR STATION EXHIBITION: NEXT STOPS WAVERLEY AND INVERKEITHING

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Plans for a multi-million-pound train and tram interchange station at Gogar, in west Edinburgh, will be exhibited to city centre and Fife passengers in advance of the formal submission to City of Edinburgh Council for planning approval.

The latest exhibitions will take place at Waverley Station on 10 September and at Inverkeithing Station on 11 September. They follow two well attended events at the Gyle shopping centre last month.

The Gogar Rail Interchange project, funded by Transport Scotland, comprises the creation of a new rail station on the Edinburgh to Fife railway lines in the Gogar area. This would be located adjacent to a new stop on the Edinburgh Tram network for onward passenger transfer to Edinburgh Airport.

A raised walkway will link the railway station and tram terminal whilst a subway will link the railway station with the Gyle Shopping Centre on the south side of the A8.

The railway station will be on two levels. The lower level area will have a lift, staircase and escalators to take passengers up to the ticket office and concourse at first floor level.

Ron McAulay, Network Rail Director, Scotland said:

“Our aspiration is to have the facility completed by late 2011. The planning application for the station interchange will be submitted in October however, we’re keen to incorporate the thoughts and considerations of the general public prior to submission."

Helen Eadie, MSP for Dunfermline East, welcomed the news that Fife would have it's own exhibition.

She said, "I felt it was very important that residents of Fife had a chance to view proposals that would affect them. I was very glad to learn that this exhibition would be held in Inverkeithing and that Fifers will have an opportunity to take part in this consultation process."

Scottish Government Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson said:

“This is a hugely important project for the East of Scotland and I’m delighted that the proposals for the station are available for all to see.

“The new station at Gogar will improve public transport access both to Edinburgh Airport and West Edinburgh and should encourage more drivers out of their cars and on to public transport, easing congestion in the city.”

The new interchange, which is expected top provide substantial benefits to passengers travelling to and from Edinburgh and Fife, is part of a £1bn programme of investment in the railway between Edinburgh and Glasgow which is being funded by Transport Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvements Programme will make significant investment in the rail infrastructure linking Scotland’s two main cities and their surrounding towns, increasing service levels and reducing journey times.

The planned dates for exhibitions are as follows:

Thursday 10 September 8am - 6pm, Waverley Station, Edinburgh
Friday 11 September 8am - 6pm, Inverkeithing Station, Fife

To view artist impressions of the interchange, visit: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/gogar