The leaders of Glasgow and Edinburgh councils last week updated MSPs on what is required to bring high speed rail (HSR) north of the border.
The well-attended event, hosted at Holyrood by Charlie Gordon MSP, was organised to maintain the pressure on the Scottish Government to co-operate with their Westminster counterparts in ensuring that Scotland is included in the network from the outset.
This came on the day that Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, addressed the Transport Times Conference in London, outlining the government’s commitment to HSR.
The Coalition Government at Westminster are currently considering how best to take forward plans for a UK High Speed Rail Network.
Councillors Dawe and Matheson explained to MSPs and other stakeholders that a high-speed rail link between Scotland and London would deliver maximum economic and environmental benefits, whilst ensuring that Scotland is not economically disadvantaged in relation to UK and international competitors.
Edinburgh council leader, Cllr Jenny Dawe, said: “The presence of the Leaders of Scotland’s two main cities at today’s event is a clear demonstration of our willingness to work together in the national interest and of the importance that we attach to bringing high speed rail to Scotland.
“Failure to do so from the outset will damage not just our ability to compete internationally but also our ability to compete with those other regions of the UK that will be included in the network.”
Cllr Gordon Matheson added: “Edinburgh and Glasgow both agree that rejecting any commitment to high-speed rail for Scotland would be short-term thinking of the worst kind.
“In fact, it’s estimated that bringing the line to Scotland could take at least 20 years – so long-term thinking and planning is absolutely crucial and we believe we have a strong case for building this rail network from both ends.”
Further details on the case for bringing HSR to Scotland available here.
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