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Friday 15 Oct 2010

NETWORK RAIL OUTLINES FUTURE FOR SCOTLAND’S RAILWAY

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Passenger numbers set to soar across the network over next two decades

More train services and enhanced infrastructure needed to match demand

The growing popularity of rail travel will see passenger numbers on some Scottish routes more than double over the next two decades, a new report by Network Rail has found.

Published for consultation today, the draft Scotland Route Utilisation Strategy (Generation Two) builds on the Scotland RUS established in May 2007, and recommends a range of measures needed to ensure the rail network can continue to meet demand.

The report’s findings suggest that passenger numbers in the Glasgow area will increase by up to 38 percent by 2025, while passenger growth in Edinburgh is anticipated to grow by 90 to 115 percent by 2025.

Strong growth is also forecast outside of the central belt, with routes between Fife, Stirling and North Berwick and Edinburgh and between Aberdeen and Inverness likely to see significant increases in passenger numbers. Rail freight traffic will grow by around 11 percent by 2030.

The report also sets out a range of recommendations and suggestions to be considered further to help keep pace with the growing popularity of rail, including:

• Introducing new or strengthened services on a number of lines from Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire into Glasgow Central
• Further electrification of routes in the Strathclyde area
• Introducing additional services or stops on routes between Fife and North Berwick and Edinburgh
• Running trains earlier in the morning between Glasgow and Edinburgh
• Introducing additional morning and evening peak services between Aberdeen and Stonehaven and reinstating a platform at Aberdeen to increase capacity
• New passing loops on the Highland Main line to deliver faster journey times

Ron McAulay, Network Rail’s Director Scotland, said: “Scotland’s railways are enjoying a period of strong growth and increased investment. With passenger demand continuing to grow faster than forecast, the success of the railway will create new challenges for the industry.

“Factors driving this increase in demand include housing development and economic growth and enhancements we are already delivering, including the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link, Paisley Corridor Improvement works and the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvements Programme.

“In this document, we have identified opportunities to make effective use of the railway network and to develop capacity. The railway makes a big contribution to Scotland’s economy, communities and future sustainability and continued investment is essential to meet the ever increasing demand from passengers and businesses.”

Consultation on the RUS will end on January 13, 2011, with the final version of the document expected to be published next summer.