06.11.17
UK Governments continue with plans for three-hour London to Scotland journeys
Plans to reduce train times between Scotland and England have taken a step closer to completion with feasibility studies commissioned on a number of routes.
Starting in 2016, the joint project between the UK and Scottish governments originally looked to identify areas for improvement, particularly on the east and west coast rail corridors.
This included a major focus on the provision of three-hour services between Scottish stations and London.
Phase one of the plans has been completed, leaving a shortlist of options which will be subject to feasibility studies. The east coast line south of Dunbar towards Newcastle and the west coast line between Glasgow and Carstairs are the main focus of these reports.
Proposals are expected to identify plans to improve train journey times, capacity, resilience and reliability of Scotland-England services.
In addition, the study will also consider the potential for new cross-border stations within the Eurocentral business park and on the existing rail network near Livingston.
“I am determined for us to take the necessary steps to secure Scotland’s future and improve our connectivity with England,” said Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon.
“This work will provide us with the knowledge to make informed investments in the next ten years and move us towards our goal of a three-hour journey time to London and substantially reduced journey times to the cities in between.”
The minister confirmed hopes that new plans could reduce journey time between Newcastle and Edinburgh by a third – to just one hour. As well as shortening times between Edinburgh, Glasgow and Carlisle.
Journeys between Edinburgh and Glasgow are already expected to improve in future with the development of the EGIP.
Last week, the project saw the first Class 385 travel the full distance between Edinburgh and Glasgow. It is expected to be the beginning of a new set of services which will speeding up journeys and increasing capacity on the line.
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