Transport Scotland will help to deliver seven major projects and a number of smaller scale initiatives which will enhance the rail network in Scotland.
The major projects range from re-instating the line from Edinburgh to the Borders which was closed nearly four decades ago, to upgrading Waverley Station and creating rail links to Edinburgh and Glasgow airports. See Projects for further details.
In addition the Agency will deliver a number of smaller scale initiatives and investments to improve passenger services such as taking forward the improvement to the Fife Circle route improving from a public performance measure (PPM) figure of around 78% to almost 90%. This is the way we measure the number of trains which arrive at their destination within a given tolerance of their scheduled time – either five or 10 minutes according to the route.
Transport Scotland is keen to encourage goods and freight to be transferred by rail and so work is taking place to enable larger containers to be carried on rail from the North East to Glasgow.
The Mossend to Elgin freight route is being enhanced, with increased space under the bridges to enable the new larger containers to be carried from ports through to Aberdeen and the North East. See Rail Freight for information on the benefits transferring good by rail can bring.
For further information on plans and potential enhancements to rail routes see Network Rail's Business Plan for 2007.
Transport Scotland recognises the value of efficient transport infrastructure to link Scotland’s industry with the rest of the UK, Europe and beyond. Scotland is a net exporter of high value consumer products and requires capable rail links to compete in the global market. To this end, Transport Scotland is investing to enable modern maritime containers to use rail beyond the central belt to Aberdeen and Elgin in the north-east where the production of food, drink and paper products represent a significant part of the economy.
Around half of all rail freight movements take coal to electricity power stations around the UK. Transport Scotland supports the health of Scotland’s power generation industry through their Stirling Alloa Kincardine project. This will provide a new, shorter route from Hunterston and Ayrshire to Longannet Power Station on the East coast, avoiding the Forth Bridge. Once the new route is open most coal trains will no longer use the Forth Bridge; Transport Scotland is considering how best to utilise the capacity this releases.
