PLANS for a high-speed rail link between Glasgow and Edinburgh have been shelved as a “bullet train” route to England must first be agreed.
In late 2012 the Scottish Government said it was forging ahead with plans for a 140mph service between Scotland’s two largest cities, with hopes it would be operational 10 years ahead of a proposed cross-Border link.
However, the 2015 Infrastructure Investment Plan did not include any mention of the project, forcing Scotland’s transport minister Derek Mackay to concede that it was not possible to “progress planning” until the link with England had been identified.
In 2012 the Scottish Government said it would not be bound by UK plans for a high-speed link, but Mackay now admits any Scottish bullet service “depends on the high-speed route coming up from the south”.
A draft business case submitted to ministers in 2014 said a Scottish service was not possible until a cross-Border route had been identified.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here