HIGH-SPEED RAIL MUST BE PROPERLY INTEGRATED INTO EXISTING NETWORK

Alison McInnes <info@alisonmcinnes.co.uk>

HIGH-SPEED RAIL MUST BE PROPERLY INTEGRATED INTO EXISTING NETWORK - McINNES

April 22, 2009 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson and MSP for the North East, Alison McInnes has urged Ministers to make sure that any high-speed rail development between Scotland and London is properly integrated with Scotland's existing rail network.

Commenting ahead of this afternoon's debate on high-speed rail, Mrs McInnes said:

"Liberal Democrats want to see Scotland included right from the start in any high-speed rail plans brought forward by the UK Government.

"It is vital, however, that all of Scotland benefits from any new high-speed link. Development of a new link to London must go hand in hand with improvements to our regional rail networks.

"A high-speed link from London to the Central Belt will be of little use to businesses in Aberdeen and the North East if the connecting journey takes twice as long.

"Investment in high-speed rail must not come at the expense of the existing rail lines. SNP Ministers must work to ensure that Scotland's rail network is properly integrated into any new high-speed system."

Ends.