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Rail improvements on track
18/11/2008
Work to reduce journey times and increase frequency of service between Glasgow and Edinburgh is ahead of schedule and key design contracts will be signed next month, Glasgow's Eleventh State of the City Economy Conference was told today.
First Minister Alex Salmond confirmed that the timing of the design contracts would accelerate construction on the next stage of the Edinburgh - Glasgow Improvements Programme which is worth up to £1 billion to increase the rail capacity between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The investment aims to improve train journeys for more than 15 million passengers while also reducing emissions and operating costs, further enhancing sustainable economic growth.
The FM said:
"Glasgow is our largest city and a core part of Scotland's economy. We are living in unprecedented and challenging economic times but the Scottish Government is committed to pulling together all our resources to the fullest extent to help protect our real economy - our households and high streets.
"This includes continued investment in our roads and railways. We must ensure we have a modern, quick and efficient transport system ready and able to deal with maximum economic activity. The Glasgow to Edinburgh train service is one of our busiest and these improvements, alongside the M74 Completion, will create more economic opportunities for Glasgow, its businesses and residents.
"I believe Glasgow has vast economic potential, enduring strengths and a range of opportunities which will help reflate the local and national economy. The 2014 Commonwealth Games; the Clyde Windfarm, Europe's largest single windfarm development; the growing media hub at Pacific Quay; a rapidly growing life sciences base; and the #842 million, entirely publicly funded, new Southern General Hospital.
"The Government has a six point economic recovery plan and our overarching priority is to increase sustainable economic growth in Scotland. Glasgow, which generates one sixth of Scotland's GDP, is fundamental to both."
The design contracts are specified and funded by Transport Scotland as part of the Scottish Government working in partnership with Network Rail who will procure and manage the design contracts. They will cover:
- Electrification of the rail line
- Programme of 22 different major infrastructure works
These plans are in addition to the new £300 million electric railway between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Airdrie and Bathgate which the First Minster confirmed is under construction and on track to deliver four extra trains per hour between Scotland's two largest cities from December 2010.