REFORM SCOTLAND REPORT SHOWS SNP WERE WRONG TO ABANDON EARL - MCINNES

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Jun 2009

Commenting on the Reform Scotland report published today (Friday) which recommends the development of £25 billion Scottish public transport hub at Edinburgh Airport, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP said:

"These are hugely ambitious proposals. They are further evidence of the need for a step change in Scotland's approach to public transport developments.

"Liberal Democrats support calls for the proper modernisation and integration of Scotland's transport networks. We must also make sure that Scotland is included right from the start in any plans for a UK-wide high speed rail system.

"This report underlines that the SNP Government's decision not to follow through on the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL) may have been one of the most short-sighted decisions in Scotland's transport history.

"EARL would have laid the foundations for a modern and accessible transport hub at Edinburgh airport, one of the key recommendations in this report."