12.03.20
New Kintore station set to encourage greener electric vehicles
Scottish Government has secured additional funding to increase the number of electric charging bays at the new Kintore station, leading the way in encouraging greener commutes.
In total 24 out of the 168 spaces at the new transport hub will be for electric vehicles, a huge increase on the two spaces initially planned for the facility.
The expansion, which means 15 percent of spaces are for greener vehicles, has been funded by Transport Scotland as part of the government’s strategy to decarbonize rail travel by 2035.
The new station will also have 12 accessible spaces, including two for electric vehicles.
The £14.5m station is on course to open in May this year, re-joining Kintore to the rail network for the first time in fifty years.
Furthermore, the funding from Transport Scotland, Aberdeenshire Council and Nestrans, the new station will have step-free access between platforms through a new footbridge and lifts.
The station will also have bike storage spaces and connections into the local bus network to encourage passengers to use public transport.
All Aberdeen-Inverness trains will call at the station, which is being built by Network Rail and main contractor BAM Nuttall.
Network Rail’s senior sponsor for Kintore, Graeme Stewart, said: “Rail is already among the most sustainable forms of transport and we are committed to working alongside the Scottish Government to decarbonise the rail industry by 2035.
“Work on the new station is progressing to plan and we look forward to opening Kintore in May – delivering new travel choices for the local community.”
Transport Scotland’s head of rail projects and technical services, Lawrence Shackman, said: “This is an excellent example of how we are not only supporting our commitment to decarbonise rail in Scotland by 2035, but also our bold ambition to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032.
“Through linking electric vehicle infrastructure directly with access to rail, we are actively encouraging greener end-to-end journeys as an integral part of our efforts to improve air quality and our response to the climate emergency.”
Image: Network Rail