High Speed Rail Line
Putting forward his proposal for high speed rail, Graham Bell of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said that the time had come to turn the ‘aspiration’ of high speed rail into ‘inspiration’. Focusing on commuting patterns between central Scotland and central London, Bell highlighted that today up to 1 million people commute by either rail or road, while a further 6 million people commute by air.

Not only would high speed rail take 3.5 million people out of airports and save up to £1 billion in time, it would also dramatically reduce carbon emissions. With the costs of building a high speed rail line in Britain expected to be up to £30 billion, Bell suggested that the cost of incorporating Scotland into the wider UK proposal could realistically see costs rise by a further £8 billion over 20 years.
He believed that the onus is on Scotland to ensure that it is included in the construction and development of a high speed rail. Bell also advocated the proposal that the line would split at the border ensuring that that both Edinburgh and Glasgow would be similarly served.

The Dragons were equally enthusiastic, but with some caveats. Minister Stevenson though persuaded was particularly concerned about the costs involved. Scott McIntosh, on the other hand highlighted the fact that a number of studies had been done on the issue of high speed rail in the UK and the question now needed to be asked as to how this would be delivered. High speed rail for McIntosh had to be part of an integrated transport system and while it has the support of both the public and the private sectors he argued that without the involvement of the private sector such a project could not be delivered.

Scott McIntosh	Mike Connelly	Stewart Stevenson	Grant Thomas

Good Morning Scotland

Graham Bell

Hear this interview with Graham Bell and John McCormick, Chair of the Scottish Association for Public Transport:

“Discussing the proposed plans for Highspeed rail to Scotland“.

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In this interview Graham Bell and Dr John McCormick discuss the benefits of High Speed Rail in the light of recent reports that the Conservatives have only suggested extending the line as far as Leeds. In reality Labour look set to commit only as far as Birmingham. It is imperative we agitate for Scotland to be included from the outset! Al the indications are that the best wins come from Manchester to Edinburgh Glasgow (or indeed the other way round!). If you haven’t done so yet go to http://www.hs2s.co.uk and vote in favour!