Callum Johnstone
2004-04-26 16:56:59 UTC
Source: The Scotsman
26/04/04
Experts call for superfast central belt link
ALASTAIR JAMIESON
Experts have renewed calls for a bullet-train' between Edinburgh and
Glasgow, claiming a high-speed link could transform Scotland's
economy.
Journey times on the busy route - about 50 minutes - are longer today
than they were 20 years ago.
Now there are fresh calls for a major engineering project to bring the
cities together and turn central Scotland into "one economic
powerhouse".
A new high-speed link, perhaps using the existing GNER route through
Shotts, could create a 30-minute service - which has already been
dubbed "the Central Belter".
Researchers admit the cost of such a scheme would be massive, but
claim the return on investment would be much greater than from
existing smaller schemes such as the Waverley route to the Borders,
the re-opening of the Airdrie to Bathgate link and various city centre
tram plans.
Dr Iain Docherty, research fellow at the Urban Studies Department at
Glasgow University, said: "If you were to come up with one idea to
boost the economy of central Scotland then a high-speed Edinburgh to
Glasgow link would probably be the best.
"If you could get from one side of Scotland to the other in half an
hour then we can begin thinking of one economic powerhouse rather than
two cities effectively competing against each other for investment."
He added that a fast link to Glasgow could relieve the intense
economic pressure on Edinburgh.
"The capital has a dire housing shortage which has squeezed out
first-time buyers, and a shortage of labour," he said.
"Glasgow, which has more affordable homes and lower employment rates,
is ideally placed to help Edinburgh, but the long journey time often
rules out people commuting."
He continued: "In countries like France, where you can get from Paris
to Lyons in well under two hours, you can see how great infrastructure
can remove physical barriers to economic success. Regional cities in
France are much healthier because of their TGV links."
Professor David Begg, chair of the Commission for Integrated Transport
and former Edinburgh council transport convener, said: "The
benefit-to-cost ratio of a high-speed link would be excellent.
"The problem at the moment is that the service is trying to provide a
quick journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh but also a link to
commuter spots such as Lenzie, Croy and Linlithgow. One comes at the
expense of the other.
"The problem is getting worse as new stations such as Edinburgh Park -
and Edinburgh Airport in the future - add more stops and slow down
journey times."
The journey time between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley
is some 50 minutes compared with 43 minutes in the early 1970s. Since
the introduction of the four-times-an-hour ScotRail service between
the two cities in September 1999, passenger numbers have increased by
23 per cent at peak times and 43 per cent off-peak.
The leading Edinburgh architect, Malcolm Fraser, said the capital's
overheated economy would benefit from a new line.
He said: "Glasgow and Edinburgh's economic strengths and weaknesses
are so extraordinarily complementary that transport infrastructure
improvements unlock great potential, with our hugely contrasting
housing and city-centre shopping markets balancing out a little."
The cost of a high-speed link was recently put at as much as £4
billion.
26/04/04
Experts call for superfast central belt link
ALASTAIR JAMIESON
Experts have renewed calls for a bullet-train' between Edinburgh and
Glasgow, claiming a high-speed link could transform Scotland's
economy.
Journey times on the busy route - about 50 minutes - are longer today
than they were 20 years ago.
Now there are fresh calls for a major engineering project to bring the
cities together and turn central Scotland into "one economic
powerhouse".
A new high-speed link, perhaps using the existing GNER route through
Shotts, could create a 30-minute service - which has already been
dubbed "the Central Belter".
Researchers admit the cost of such a scheme would be massive, but
claim the return on investment would be much greater than from
existing smaller schemes such as the Waverley route to the Borders,
the re-opening of the Airdrie to Bathgate link and various city centre
tram plans.
Dr Iain Docherty, research fellow at the Urban Studies Department at
Glasgow University, said: "If you were to come up with one idea to
boost the economy of central Scotland then a high-speed Edinburgh to
Glasgow link would probably be the best.
"If you could get from one side of Scotland to the other in half an
hour then we can begin thinking of one economic powerhouse rather than
two cities effectively competing against each other for investment."
He added that a fast link to Glasgow could relieve the intense
economic pressure on Edinburgh.
"The capital has a dire housing shortage which has squeezed out
first-time buyers, and a shortage of labour," he said.
"Glasgow, which has more affordable homes and lower employment rates,
is ideally placed to help Edinburgh, but the long journey time often
rules out people commuting."
He continued: "In countries like France, where you can get from Paris
to Lyons in well under two hours, you can see how great infrastructure
can remove physical barriers to economic success. Regional cities in
France are much healthier because of their TGV links."
Professor David Begg, chair of the Commission for Integrated Transport
and former Edinburgh council transport convener, said: "The
benefit-to-cost ratio of a high-speed link would be excellent.
"The problem at the moment is that the service is trying to provide a
quick journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh but also a link to
commuter spots such as Lenzie, Croy and Linlithgow. One comes at the
expense of the other.
"The problem is getting worse as new stations such as Edinburgh Park -
and Edinburgh Airport in the future - add more stops and slow down
journey times."
The journey time between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley
is some 50 minutes compared with 43 minutes in the early 1970s. Since
the introduction of the four-times-an-hour ScotRail service between
the two cities in September 1999, passenger numbers have increased by
23 per cent at peak times and 43 per cent off-peak.
The leading Edinburgh architect, Malcolm Fraser, said the capital's
overheated economy would benefit from a new line.
He said: "Glasgow and Edinburgh's economic strengths and weaknesses
are so extraordinarily complementary that transport infrastructure
improvements unlock great potential, with our hugely contrasting
housing and city-centre shopping markets balancing out a little."
The cost of a high-speed link was recently put at as much as £4
billion.