ALMOST 17,000 jobs could be created by upgrading Scotland’s railways, the Scottish Greens have said.
The party has already published plans for a £22 billion package of improvements to the country’s rail network.
And as well as providing better transport links for communities and helping cut emissions, the Greens said their plans would see 16,800 jobs created in the construction of new rail infrastructure.
Co-leader Patrick Harvie will highlight the impact the party’s Rail for All plans could have as he campaigns in Glasgow today.
And while he said the proposals were “ambitious and transformative”, he insisted that “the climate emergency demands no less”.
Harvie said: “As we recover from the pandemic, investing in a modern, zero-carbon transport network that is affordable and accessible for all is a must, but it will also create nearly 17,000 construction jobs upgrading our railways, and thousands more in the wider economy.
“Rail for All would improve inter-city services, upgrade regional links and open new stations across the country.
“It would help shift freight onto rail and reduce traffic levels on our roads. This will be crucial in cutting Scotland’s emissions.”
Harvie added that government focus on roads over rail now needs to be reversed.
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