Sitemap
Published 18 Jan 2012 09:30
BRIAN Donohoe MP has spoken out against the Scottish Government's policy on rail services to and from Scotland, saying the proposals will "increase the fragmentation and the complexity of the railway in Scotland".
The MP's comments came after the Scottish Government outlined plans to stop all cross-border services from running beyond Glasgow and Edinburgh - granting Scotrail a monopoly on Scotland's railway.
It also intends on reducing services and forcing more interchanges. In further proposals, it plans on shielding Scotrail's profits from the wider economy, in order for dividends to shareholders to remain massive.
Mr Donohoe commented: "If these proposals were to come in to force, there would be no through trains from England to places such as Inverness, Dundee, Aberdeen and Perth. It would be an ill-advised and ill-thought out gesture to stop social and economic traffic going up to Aberdeen and so forth.
"I, together with other Labour colleagues in Scotland have had damaging feedback from the business community, speaking widely from across the country, about the detrimental consequences for Scotland's economic interests, in terms of vital corridors of business travel between Scotland and England.
"It is utterly ridiculous that passengers will not be able to have one through ticket on one through train.
"Rather than looking for ridiculous short term savings, the Scottish Government should be listening to needs of customers.
"The SNP should proceed with their proposals only if their intention is to reduce tourism, reduce passenger numbers and disrupt passengers and damage local economies.
"I strongly recommend that Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government to keep our cross-border services.
"I hope to raise my concern on this point in Westminster, in the hope that the Government will pursue these vital points with the Scottish Government".
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
You may have missed
Your social, local Business Directory - It's in Irvine | It's in The Directory | Directory Network
Copyright ©2012 Ayrshire Weekly Press, Herald Building Dock Road Ardrossan KA22 8BX • Tel: 01294 273421 • Fax: 01294 277719
