I can think of a number of projects that I'd like to see happen, that would be realistic, and that would benefit the communities concerned.
Upgrading Aberdeen-Inverness is a must. The services are very well used, and upgrading the line to allow an hourly service will benefit the towns and cities along the route.
I'll start with the one I said on the other thread. Kirkintilloch would be an excellent extension to the rail network. I can envisage a Charing Cross-Kirky service calling at Queen St Low Level, High Street, Bellgrove, Duke St, Alexandra Parade, Barnhill, Springburn, Bishopbriggs, Lenzie and Kirkintilloch. However, it would be expensive and difficult (if not impossible) because such a move would undoubtedly involve 4-tracking the line between Cowlairs and Lenzie, and probably need a flyover as well.
There's also the St Andrew's Rail Link. A feasibility study will soon be under way for this. That's another excellent link to the main rail network, given the huge amounts of traffic in and out of this small town. However, my question to the campaigners would be how the services would flight into the timetable without removing existing services. Fife's already busy and the Forth Bridge must be close to capacity (of not already there). And there's no point replacing the (admittedly very good) bus link with a shuttle train; through services are needed.
Stirling-Dunfermline is, in my eyes, a no-brainer. It would be relatively cheap to upgrade the SAK line for passenger services, build new stations (at, for example; Clackmannan, Kincardine, maybe somewhere else? I don't know the route well enough), and perhaps terminus facilities at Dunfermline Town (a new platform would be ideal). You could then run 2tph Glasgow-Alloa, one of which continues to Dunfermline. And the existing Glasgow-Dunblane service would cease and be replaced by the proposed Glasgow-Perth(-Dundee-Arbroath?) service.
I think that, in the medium- to long-term, the Scottish Government will eventually be pressured to electrify all the way up to Aberdeen in order to retain direct Aberdeen-London trains. Of course, there are also benefits for Scottish domestic services as well. Improving the corridor by upgrading the speed, electrifying and improving rolling stock in the future will help these key corridors develop.
I can't speak for EARL but GARL... I'm not sure that we'll see it back in its original form. The one issue I always had with GARL (as much as I supported the general principles) was that 4tph through Paisley were being sent off on a short spur to the airport, which meant that existing services through Paisley would have less room for future enhancement. And I think that over the coming decades we will see more frequent Ayrshire and Inverclyde services, and consequently GARL could not exist the way it was planned. I'd like to see it reinstated without affecting the existing corridor through Paisley. Perhaps a new line serving Ibrox, Govan and Renfrew ERT Glasgow Airport would be possible in the future. I don't think it would be too bad if it just followed the M8, although it would be a lot more expensive than the existing plan.
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The Class 380s could be operated under DOO on North Berwick services
Similar to Class 334s the equipment is on the trains rather than on the platforms
Equally, Class 380s could also be used between Airdrie and Bathgate
I personally suspect they will at some point, given how many spares there will be
For example, a diagram that runs :
Glasgow C - North Berwick - Edinburgh - Helensburgh - Edinburgh - North Berwick - Glasgow C
I think it would be foolish not to clear 380s for the new route. At the very least, it would provide an alternative option for ECS routes between the two cities.
