Altnabreac
Established Member
At a Transport Summit in Dumfries and Galloway the Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Transport Minister Humza Yousaf have announced a review of the National Transport Strategy (NTS) which will set out transport policy across Scotland for the next 20 years.
The review of the NTS will also inform an update to the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR).
The last Strategic Transport Projects Review was finalised in 2009 so a new one will be welcome. It contained 29 proposed Strategic Projects of which around 14 were related to Roads and 16 to Railways:
http://www.transport.gov.scot/report/j11260a-00.htm
7 Reconfiguration of the National Rail Timetable
12 Enhancing Rail System Capacity through Targeted Improvements
10 Integrated Ticketing
6 Further Electrification of the Strategic Rail Network
13 Rail Enhancements in the East of Scotland
15 Edinburgh - Glasgow (Rail) Improvements Programme
17 Rail Enhancements on the Highland Main line between Perth and Inverness
19 Rail Service Enhancements between Aberdeen and Inverness
20 Grangemouth Road and Rail Access Upgrades
21 Upgrade Edinburgh Haymarket Public Transport Interchange
23 Rail Service Enhancements between Aberdeen and the Central Belt
24 West of Scotland Strategic Rail Enhancements
25 Light Rapid Transit connections between Fife and Edinburgh
26 Rail Enhancements between Inverclyde / Ayrshire and Glasgow
27 Enhancements to Rail Freight between Glasgow and the Border via West Coast Main Line
28 Inverkeithing to Halbeath Rail Line
Of the rail schemes you'd probably say most have been at least partially progressed in that time. Perhaps only 21 - Haymarket Interchange can be judged 100% delivered at this point.
Two schemes that have made no progress are 28 Inverkeithing to Halbeath Rail Line and 24 West of Scotland Strategic Rail Enhancements.
Inverkeithing to Halbeath certainly made an appearance in the Network Rail Scotland Route Study and I'd expect it to remain in the revised STPR and progress more rapidly now. Will be interesting to see if Halbeath - Perth moves up the agenda this time. It was ruled out last time but has more support now than it did previously.
West of Scotland Strategic Rail Enhancements involves either light rail across Glasgow or a tunneled heavy rail option. I'm very interested to see what comes out of the STPR process under this option. I'd definitely like to see a push for a heavy rail tunnel under Glasgow higher up the agenda.
The scheme most likely to drop out of the STPR altogether is 25 Light Rapid Transit connections between Fife and Edinburgh. The Queensferry Crossing makes no allowance for Trams and even the most enthusiastic tram advocate is no longer proposing cross Forth services.
The biggest scheme not mentioned in the last STPR is High Speed Rail. I'm sure it will make an entry into this STPR both in an Edinburgh - Glasgow format and as a cross border proposition.
What other rail schemes do people think will make the STPR2 cut?
The review of the NTS will also inform an update to the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR).
http://www.transport.gov.scot/news/groundbreaking-dumfries-galloway-transport-summitTransport Scotland said:The National Transport Review is expected to deliver:
- A strong, Scotland-wide demonstration of partnership working with stakeholders such as COSLA, Regional Transport Partnerships, transport operators, local authorities, businesses and the travelling publics.
- The publication of a reference document (NTS2) with an updated vision and strategy endorsed and owned by all.
- An associated outcomes framework to focus delivery of that vision and strategy, setting out contributions needed from all partners across all sectors.
- The articulation of a coherent transport narrative reflecting the Programme for Government and the principles of prosperity, fairness and participation; and with clearer alignment with SG National plans, Policies and Strategies, such as the National Planning Framework, Digital Strategy, RPP3, Infrastructure Investment and Community Planning.
- The articulation of priorities for the revised Strategic Transport Projects Review (which would form part of the deliverables for NTS2).
- Clarification and possible modification of existing roles and responsibilities, as between central and local government and service providers.
The last Strategic Transport Projects Review was finalised in 2009 so a new one will be welcome. It contained 29 proposed Strategic Projects of which around 14 were related to Roads and 16 to Railways:
http://www.transport.gov.scot/report/j11260a-00.htm
7 Reconfiguration of the National Rail Timetable
12 Enhancing Rail System Capacity through Targeted Improvements
10 Integrated Ticketing
6 Further Electrification of the Strategic Rail Network
13 Rail Enhancements in the East of Scotland
15 Edinburgh - Glasgow (Rail) Improvements Programme
17 Rail Enhancements on the Highland Main line between Perth and Inverness
19 Rail Service Enhancements between Aberdeen and Inverness
20 Grangemouth Road and Rail Access Upgrades
21 Upgrade Edinburgh Haymarket Public Transport Interchange
23 Rail Service Enhancements between Aberdeen and the Central Belt
24 West of Scotland Strategic Rail Enhancements
25 Light Rapid Transit connections between Fife and Edinburgh
26 Rail Enhancements between Inverclyde / Ayrshire and Glasgow
27 Enhancements to Rail Freight between Glasgow and the Border via West Coast Main Line
28 Inverkeithing to Halbeath Rail Line
Of the rail schemes you'd probably say most have been at least partially progressed in that time. Perhaps only 21 - Haymarket Interchange can be judged 100% delivered at this point.
Two schemes that have made no progress are 28 Inverkeithing to Halbeath Rail Line and 24 West of Scotland Strategic Rail Enhancements.
Inverkeithing to Halbeath certainly made an appearance in the Network Rail Scotland Route Study and I'd expect it to remain in the revised STPR and progress more rapidly now. Will be interesting to see if Halbeath - Perth moves up the agenda this time. It was ruled out last time but has more support now than it did previously.
West of Scotland Strategic Rail Enhancements involves either light rail across Glasgow or a tunneled heavy rail option. I'm very interested to see what comes out of the STPR process under this option. I'd definitely like to see a push for a heavy rail tunnel under Glasgow higher up the agenda.
The scheme most likely to drop out of the STPR altogether is 25 Light Rapid Transit connections between Fife and Edinburgh. The Queensferry Crossing makes no allowance for Trams and even the most enthusiastic tram advocate is no longer proposing cross Forth services.
The biggest scheme not mentioned in the last STPR is High Speed Rail. I'm sure it will make an entry into this STPR both in an Edinburgh - Glasgow format and as a cross border proposition.
What other rail schemes do people think will make the STPR2 cut?