posted 23 May 2012 18:26 by lawrence336@btinternet.com
[
updated 23 May 2012 18:28
]
posted 23 May 2012 07:04 by lawrence336@btinternet.com
Dear Sir
Whilst I have no doubt that
MSPs on the infrastructure and capital investment committee (your report, 21
May) thought that they were acting in the best interests of rail travellers when
they urged that any train more than a minute overdue at its destination be classed as late (as opposed to the
current 5-10 minute threshold), I fear that in practice they will by this
decision have made it yet more difficult for new stations and services to be
provided to meet the needs of Scotland's communities.
The privatised and
fragmented railway lives by "delay attribution". When a train is late, a cause
must be assigned - and the culprit fined. Each train operating company and
Network Rail employ staff specifically to argue their corner so that they
minimise the penalties imposed on them. Ever wonder why the conductor sees you
running for the train but closes the doors anyway? Or why your connecting train
leaves just as the late train you're on pulls in alongside it? That's delay
attribution for you!
On a wider canvas,
therefore, if a train is to be deemed late after only a minute's delay, then the
train companies and Network Rail will be very loathe to open a new station or
introduce a new service which could impact upon train punctuality on an
increasingly congested network. The opening of Edinburgh Park station was
delayed for years by just such a dispute.
I very much hope that those
seeking the betterment of rail provision in Scotland will not come to see this
decision as very much a phyrric victory. Be careful what you wish for.
Yours sincerely
Lawrence Marshall
Chair
Capital Rail Action
Group
50 (3F1) King's Road
Portobello
Edinburgh EH15 1DX
Tel.: (0131) 669
1336
|
posted 2 May 2012 15:22 by lawrence336@btinternet.com
[
updated 2 May 2012 15:27
]
Formed in 1989, the Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) is based in Edinburgh and
campaigns primarily for better and more integrated public transport provision,
especially rail-based, in the capital and its travel-to-work area.
Support for such goals is not an end in itself. Rather we believe that these
goals are in fact the means by which we can make our capital city a more
efficient and pleasant place in which to live, work and enjoy ourselves. They
will also allow our many visitors to make the most of their time with us
here.
We welcome the work done in
recent years to upgrade rail-based transport provision in and around Edinburgh.
The majority of completed schemes has, however, resulted in better journey
opportunities for those living outwith the city - whilst doing little to improve
the lot of the far greater number living within it. Indeed, it is now
considerably quicker to access the city centre from Prestonpans, Linlithgow and
Dalgety Bay than it is from Pilton, Liberton and Duddingston. This does not
encourage a compact, sustainable city.
Moreover, current
plans for faster and even more frequent trains to Glasgow - whilst per se
no bad thing - can only exacerbate this trend of increasingly lengthy commuter
travel.
We thus, in publishing this
manifesto for the 2012 City of Edinburgh Council elections, wish to suggest the
following opportunities which, if realised, will help to address this inbalance
in investment and, in conjunction with locally-focused planning and housing
policies, will hopefully make Edinburgh a more affordable and attractive city to
live in.
Abbeyhill station
re-opening: an opportunity exists to add community value to the
current proposal to relay track to Abbeyhill to provide sidings for empty
passenger trains which would otherwise occupy valuable platform space at
Waverley station. Re-opening Abbeyhill for passenger use would allow even more
trains to clear Waverley and would give those living there and travelling to
this densely populated area of the city access to the rail network for the first
time in over 50 years. An easy interchange with bus services would also be
achieved.
CRAG welcomes the support
of the City of Edinburgh Council for the re-opening to passenger use of
Abbeyhill station. Network Rail's current track layout, however, in impinging on
the East Coast Main Line, precludes just such a passenger service. We thus call
upon all involved to work together to have the track layout altered to re-use
the redundant trackbed leading to Abbehyill to allow a passenger service to be
provided.
Portobello
station: CRAG welcomes the plans by Network Rail to re-instate
double track over the junction at Portobello leading to and from the line to
Newcraighall and the future line to Midlothian and Galashiels. We believe,
however, that this work should take place alongside the building of a new
station to once more allow Portobello to be served by rail. Portobello was one
of the busiest suburban stations in the past - with a journey time of 5 minutes
to/from Waverley, it would undoubtedly be so once again.
South suburban line tram-trains: with the Scottish
Government having effectively declared that all railway investment is to be
aimed at those journeying into Edinburgh from outwith the city and not for the
benefit of those seeking to travel within the city, trams represent the only
viable means whereby passengers can once again travel through the city on the
long underused south suburban railway. Tram-trains have been running on railway
lines in Europe for decades - and a trial of tram-trains is shortly to take
place in Yorkshire. We call upon the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish
Government to actively pursue tram-trains as one element of an enhanced public
transport provision for the capital - one utilising existing infrastructure and
adding value to the investment already made to bring trams back to the
city.
Waverley station: CRAG welcomes the current works to
restore the city's principal station and to improve access to Princes Street and
Market Street. We would hope that these works can then lead to further
enhancement of the facilities on offer at this major gateway to the capital. In
particular, we would suggest that the use of the main station building for
offices be examined to see whether this grand building can be put to more public
use - with new-build railway accommodation being provided at the east end of the
station. The main booking office should remain in the current building - we are
only proposing the moving of supportive "back-office" functions.
CRAG believes that taxis should still be allowed to access the station.
We would also prefer that public pick-up/drop-off facilities for car access be
allowed to remain.
Trams: despite all the travails of recent years, CRAG
still believes that trams will be good for Edinburgh. There is absolutely no
reason to believe that their success in many other cities throughout the world
will not also be seen here.
We believe that trams can make Princes Street an altogether more
pleasant place. We therefore call upon the City of Edinburgh Council to
implement a trial removal of buses from Princes Street from Waverley Bridge
westwards. Ideally, this would take place in the summer months to allow the
potential of a more pleasant Princes Street to be fully realised and to better
assess the other consequences of such a move.
We also believe that, as far as possible, trams should integrate with
the city's bus services - which will remain the mainstay of public transport
provision in Edinburgh. To that end, we believe that the planned provision of
tram stops in the city centre is inadequate. We call upon the City of Edinburgh
Council to urgently re-assess the need for a tram stop at the west end of
Princes Street to allow better interchange with bus services using Lothian Road.
We also believe that an additional tram stop should be
located around the area of the Scott Monument to allow better interchange
between the tram and Waverley station and between tram and bus.
Finally, we need a more extensive tram provision than just a line from the
airport to York Place if trams are to enable the city to better its transport
offer. The financial viability of
the present tram project will be enhanced if it is completed to Leith and
Newhaven. This should be considered - along with tram-trains to
Little France via Haymarket and the south suburban line to Cameron Toll, as
outlined above. |
posted 29 Apr 2012 15:30 by lawrence336@btinternet.com
Edinburgh south
suburban line tram-trains:
With the Scottish Government having
effectively declared that all railway investment is to be aimed at those
journeying into Edinburgh from outwith the city and not for the benefit of those
seeking to travel within the city, trams represent the only viable (but
nevertheless a very attractive) means whereby passengers can once
again travel through the city on the long underused south suburban railway.
Tram-trains have been running on railway lines in Europe for decades - and a
trial of tram-trains is shortly to take place in Yorkshire. We call upon Network
Rail, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government to actively
pursue tram-trains as one element of an enhanced public transport provision for
Scotland's capital - one utilising existing infrastructure and adding value to
the investment already made to bring trams back to the city.
One route option which should be considered is to extend trams onto
the south suburban line in the vicinity of Haymarket Central Junction (and from
the west at Haymarket West Junction), running thence via Gorgie and Morningside
to Cameron Toll where on-street running would allow the Royal Infirmary of
Edinburgh and other facilities at Little
France to be reached. This would provide innovative and new public transport
travel opportunities in the capital. The south suburban line should be
electrified at 25kV AC. There are many currently surplus trams in the city -
some of these could be modified to provide dual-voltage operation to allow this
new service to operate.
Many technical issues regarding wheel flanges
and pointwork have already been successfully resolved on the continent.
Moreover, standards (including station design) to allow low-floor trams to
operate on heavy rail tracks have already begun to be informally formulated in
Britain. We would envisage totally low-floor operation for tram-trains on the
south suburban route to Little France suggested above. |
posted 29 Apr 2012 12:58 by lawrence336@btinternet.com
[
updated 30 Apr 2012 09:21
]
Dear Sir,
It may well have been true that, 50 years ago, the
suburban railway lines of Edinburgh (your report, 28 April), being roundabout in
their routeing due to the city's natural topography, were seen as uncompetitive
in relation to more direct bus services.
It didn't help, of course, that
the buses were owned by the Corporation - who, on the casting vote of the Lord
Provost in the case of the south suburban line, refused to intervene to stop the
closure of a line with over 0.75 million journeys per year.
Nevertheless, as was predicted at the
time of closure of Edinburgh's local stations in 1962, increasing road traffic
congestion in the city has over the intervening years only served to strengthen
the case for re-using these routes for local passenger traffic. What matters,
after all, is not so much the directness of the journey but rather the time it
takes. Many car drivers today, for instance, choose to cross Edinburgh using the
City Bypass because, although longer, such a journey usually takes less time
than taking the shorter route through the city.
So, how about a journey time of 9 minutes from Morningside to Haymarket?
Or Portobello to Waverley in 6 minutes? Or Haymarket to Ocean Terminal in 16
minutes? All these journey times were being achieved by rail 100 years ago - and
the Portobello journey would be even faster today by train if only the Scottish
Government would agree to such a service. For the other two and more, it's very
much to be hoped that trams travelling off-street on the south suburban line and
the old north suburban routes will be allowed to offer folk in Edinburgh the
same opportunities to slice through the city sometime in the 21st century.
Yours sincerely
Lawrence Marshall
Chair
Capital Rail Action Group
50 (3F1) King's Road
Portobello
Edinburgh EH15 1DX
Tel.: (0131) 669
1336 Published in The Scotsman at http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/opinion/letters/letter-suburban-rail-1-2264574
|
posted 17 Apr 2012 12:11 by Colin Howden
[
updated 18 Apr 2012 23:50
]
Are you sick and tired of the tram project and of all the disruption of recent years? So am I. I've always thought, though, that trams would be good for Edinburgh. Not a magic bullet (there isn't one!) to solve our transport and environment problems but a help along the way. Elsewhere, once up and running, they're popular. There's still no reason why that can't be true in our capital also. I'm disappointed that we've ended up with a tram line that runs only from the city centre to the airport. Forth Ports pushed initially for Edinburgh to bring back trams - because it was along the Waterfront from Leith to Granton that much of the new housing to allow Edinburgh to live sustainably was to be provided. Indeed, a town the size of Falkirk was to be built there. Better that than building on the Green Belt or encouraging yet more commuting from Fife and the Lothians. There's still a need to develop along the shoreline - and to provide housing that folk want at a price they can afford. And Leith is a really important part of the city. Buses are great - but trying to shift the numbers involved here would require "wall-to-wall" buses. That's usually a recipe for a slow journey. So, as someone who went to school in Leith, I say we should "Persevere" with the trams. Much of the groundwork to get the trams down Leith Walk has already been done - and the street will look good with trams. I'm relaxed about private funding - but that probably won't be enough. The Scottish Government paid much more for the 5-mile M74 extension in Glasgow than originally envisaged. "Not a penny more" didn't apply there. It shouldn't apply in the capital either. And what to do with the trams that will still be surplus? - even if we do get to Leith. Little France is obviously somewhere worthwhile to aim for. So let's use some of our trams to run on the underused south suburban railway from Haymarket through Gorgie and Morningside to Cameron Toll and thence on-street to the Royal Infirmary. Network Rail are keen to get tram-trains running in Britain. Opening up new journey opportunities and causing little disruption to build, such a proposal would undoubtedly add value to the costly investment in blood, sweat, tears and treasure already made to bring trams back to Edinburgh. Lawrence Marshall is Chair of the Capital Rail Action Group
|
posted 12 Nov 2011 17:24 by lawrence336@btinternet.com
[
updated 13 Nov 2011 13:05
]
Dear MSP,
as you may be aware, Network Rail,
working for Transport Scotland, have proposed re-activating the dormant section
of railway running from just east of the Calton tunnels through the site of the
old Abbeyhill station and northwards for a short distance beyond the overbridge
at London Road. This will be electrified and form part of the £1 billion
Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP - www.networkrail.co.uk/egip). The primary purpose of this work at Abbeyhill is to provide stabling
sidings for trains which at the moment otherwise block up platform capacity at
Waverley station.
The Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) have, however, proposed, as a
relatively low-cost add-on to these works, that the opportunity be taken to
provide a passenger service to a re-opened Abbeyhill station. This would be
possible by utilising ScotRail trains which, coming in from the west and Fife,
currently terminate at Waverley and sit in the station for a reasonable period of
time before heading back out. Far better that they run forward for 2 minutes to
Abbeyhill to terminate and re-start there. We think that a service running at
least every 15 minutes should be possible utilising existing rolling stock in
this way. The main extra ongoing expense would not be fuel or power (sets are
rarely shut down at Waverley) but rather a little extra staff time - as staff
currently do not sit on empty sets at Waverley!
Abbeyhill is a densely populated part of the capital and the station
site is well placed to act - in a similar manner to Haymarket at the western
edge of the city centre - as an interchange with the many bus services passing
by just outside. The Scottish Parliament is nearby - as is Easter Road stadium,
Meadowbank stadium, Meadowbank retail park and Holyrood Park.
Waverley is 2 minutes away by train, Haymarket around 7 minutes and
South Gyle and Edinburgh Park around 12 minutes. Slicing through the city - the
second most congested in Britain and the seventh in Europe ( http://www.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh_reaches_top_ten_list_of_congested_cities_1_1692077)
- is only possible by rail. Moreover, many local residents will no doubt also
welcome a re-instated local link into the regional and national rail network for journeys further afield. Indeed, many were present when CRAG and
Network Rail held a joint meeting in London Road Church hall (at the top of
Easter Road) on 2nd November to separately outline the proposal for a station
and the current scope of EGIP. The hall was full.
We would therefore be most grateful for any support you can lend in
lobbying Transport Scotland to consider this very modest add-on to EGIP. The
first thing we would ask of you is that you write to Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet
Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, and Keith Brown MSP,
Minister for Housing and Transport, asking that they instruct Transport Scotland
to consider this proposal. It would also be useful if you could include the
re-opening of Abbeyhill station in any response you make to the current EGIP
consultation ( EGIPScotland@networkrail.co.uk)
- responses have to be in by 30th November. Please do copy to us any responses
you yourselves receive.
Finally, please don't hesitate to contact me if you wish to chat about
this issue or seek any further information. I have copied in below the e-mail
giving details of the public meeting held on 2nd November - together with a CRAG
News Release and an STV Edinburgh South-East article of 1st November and a piece
from the Edinburgh "Evening News" of 2nd November. The video link ( http://news.stv.tv/election-2011/241219-transport-group-demands-end-to-trams-bickering/)
on the e-mail giving details of the 2nd November meeting is especially worth
viewing.
Yours sincerely
Lawrence Marshall
Chair
Capital Rail Action Group
Tel.: (0131) 669 1336
* * * * *
Details of 2 November 2011 meeting in Abbeyhill:
Dear
All,
I do hope that you'll be able to make it along to the CRAG ( www.capitalrail.org.uk) meeting this coming Wednesday evening
(2nd November) at 7.30 p.m. in the hall of London Road Church, 1a Easter Road
(entrance by the bus stop at the top of Easter Road). Network Rail will be giving a presentation on the £1 billion Edinburgh Glasgow
Improvement Programme (EGIP) and its implications for the Abbeyhill area - while
CRAG will be making the case for re-opening Abbeyhill station as a small add-on
to the EGIP works. Abbeyhill is two minutes away from Waverley by train.
Please do feel free to forward this e-mail to anyone else you think might be
interested in this meeting. Please also feel free to watch the STV film of April
this year which clearly shows local support for a re-opened station at Abbeyhill
- it's at
Lawrence
Marshall
Chair
Capital
Rail Action Group
Tel.:
(0131) 669 1336
CAPITAL RAIL ACTION GROUP
Meeting on Edinburgh
Glasgow Improvement Programme and Abbeyhill
Presentations by Network
Rail and Capital Rail Action Group
London Road Church Hall
(top of Easter Road), Wednesday 2nd November 2011, 7.30 p.m.
Abbeyhill - en route to the Commomwealth Games
at Meadowbank, 1986
* * * * *
Proposal
Network Rail Scotland,
leading for Transport Scotland, propose, as part of the £1 billion
Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), to relay rails on the currently
redundant double track bed to the north of the existing main lines heading east
from the Calton tunnels – almost to the old Abbeyhill station site. This is to
provide stabling sidings to accommodate trains which at the moment block up
platform capacity at Waverley – some intercity sets, for example, sit in
Waverley for over an hour upon arrival before they depart
again.
An opportunity therefore exists to consider extending these sidings
beyond the old station site to enable passenger trains to once more serve
Abbeyhill.
Previous studies
into the reopening of Abbeyhill station have been based on the assumption that a
full reopening of the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway would be necessary.
Various factors, including cost, have mitigated against this
option.
Since now
much of the infrastructure required for this proposal will be delivered by EGIP,
reopening Abbeyhill station should be possible at low marginal cost – especially
if also utilising dwell times for ScotRail trains currently terminating at
Waverley.
Benefits
Abbeyhill
station is surrounded by the dense tenements of the Calton, Easter Road, London
Road and Abbeyhill areas to the east of Edinburgh city centre. It is also close,
as its name would suggest, to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.
The station site
is also situated right below the busy main London Road with its many bus
services offering connections eastwards and northwards. Passengers would be able
to board the train at Abbeyhill for journeys to the west with easy interchange
at Waverley for other onward rail journeys. We believe this
proposal represents a “once in a generation” opportunity to enhance rail
facilities in this part of Edinburgh.
* * * * *
CRAG News Release of 1 November 2011:
Capital Rail Action Group NEWS RELEASE For immediate use: Tuesday
1 November 2011 LOCAL TRANSPORT FOR A CONGESTED CAPITAL: ACTION GROUP
CALLS FOR RE-OPENING OF EDINBURGH'S ABBEYHILL STATION At a meeting to
be held in the Abbeyhill area of Edinburgh on Wednesday evening (see details
below), the Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) [1] will be making the case for the
re-opening of Abbeyhill Station. CRAG Chair, Lawrence Marshall,
said: "Edinburgh is the second most congested city in Britain and the
seventh in Europe. [2] In order to tackle congestion, we need to see swifter
progress in reopening some of the comprehensive rail network that the City
previously enjoyed. "The Scottish Government has commissioned rail works
in the Abbeyhill area as part of the 'Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme'
("EGIP"). An opportunity exists, as an add-on to these works, to re-open
Abbeyhill Station to give those living and passing through this densely
populated part of the city access to a fast, frequent rail service. This would
provide the area with a two-minute connection with Waverley, a seven-minute
connection with Haymarket, and would re-connect the area with the regional and
national rail network. We believe this proposal represents a “once in a
generation” opportunity to enhance rail facilities in this part of
Edinburgh. "CRAG welcomes the support already offered by local
politicians and hopes that Wednesday's meeting, to be addressed by Network Rail,
will mark a further stage in rail becoming again an option for travel within the
capital". ENDS CONTACTS: Lawrence Marshall T: 0131 669
1336 M: 07501 121984 E: lawrence336@btinternet.comW:
www.capitalrail.org.uk NOTES TO EDITORS: [1] See < http://www.capitalrail.org.uk/> [2] See < http://www.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh_reaches_top_ten_list_of_congested_cities_1_1692077>. [3]
Information on the meeting: CAPITAL RAIL ACTION GROUP Meeting on
Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and Abbeyhill Presentations by
Network Rail and Capital Rail Action Group London Road Church Hall (top
of Easter Road), Wednesday 2nd November 2011, 7.30 p.m. * * * * * The
Case for Abbeyhill Proposal Network Rail Scotland, leading for
Transport Scotland, propose, as part of the £1 billion Edinburgh-Glasgow
Improvement Programme (EGIP), to relay rails on the currently redundant double
track bed to the north of the existing main lines heading east from the Calton
tunnels – almost to the old Abbeyhill station site. This is to provide stabling
sidings to accommodate trains which at the moment block up platform capacity at
Waverley – some intercity sets, for example, sit in Waverley for over an hour
upon arrival before they depart again. An opportunity therefore exists to
consider extending these sidings beyond the old station site to enable passenger
trains to once more serve Abbeyhill. Previous studies into the reopening
of Abbeyhill station have been based on the assumption that a full reopening of
the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway would be necessary. Various factors,
including cost, have mitigated against this option. Since now much of the
infrastructure required for this proposal will be delivered by EGIP, reopening
Abbeyhill station should be possible at low marginal cost – especially if also
utilising dwell times for ScotRail trains currently terminating at
Waverley. Benefits Abbeyhill station is surrounded by the dense
tenements of the Calton, Easter Road, London Road and Abbeyhill areas to the
east of Edinburgh city centre. It is also close, as its name would suggest, to
the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. The station site is also situated
right below the busy main London Road with its many bus services offering
connections eastwards and northwards. Passengers would be able to board the
train at Abbeyhill for journeys to the west with easy interchange at Waverley
for other onward rail journeys. We believe this proposal represents a
“once in a generation” opportunity to enhance rail facilities in this part of
Edinburgh. END OF NEWS RELEASE * * * * * STV Edinburgh South-East article, 1st November 2011:
Edinburgh South-East Home » News
Transport group calls for revival of Abbeyhill Station
Capital Rail Action Group will argue for the station's reopening at Network
Rail meeting 
By Rebecca Gordon01
November 2011 08:00 GMT
Remains of the platform for north-bound trains at
Abbeyhill station Pic: ©: Kim Traynor
Local transport group Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) are to make a
case to reopen a rail station which was closed in 1964.
The group will argue for the reinstatement of Abbeyhill Station at a public
meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).
CRAG, who first proposed the reopening earlier this year, say tracks could be
laid as part of Network Rail Scotland’s £1 billion Edinburgh to Glasgow
Improvement Scheme (EGIP).
They claim Network Rail Scotland’s plans to relay rails on the redundant
track to the north of the main lines heading east from the Calton Tunnels could
be extended to reach the site of Abbeyhill Station, which is located close to
the Scottish Parliament.
The option was looked into in the 1990s but was abandoned over issues
including costs and signalling.
Lawrence Marshall, chair of CRAG, explained that, since most of the
infrastructure required will now be covered by EGIP, the project would be
relatively small scale.
He said: “Network Rail’s £1 billion project is one of the largest
infrastructure projects in Scotland and since it involves Abbeyhill to a small
extent we thought it would make sense to put back some railway lines.
“Trains could run through the Calton tunnel taking only two minutes to
Waverly. We could provide Abbeyhill with a station again on the back of the
Network Rail Scotland.”
The group will join representatives from Network Rail Scotland on Wednesday,
who will be continuing local consultation on the EGIP programme.
CRAG, who claim re-opening the 19th century station offers a “once in a
generation” opportunity, cite the area’s dense population and potential for
passengers, its proximity to the Scottish Parliament and the prospect of good
bus connections as reasons for its revival.
Mr Marshall continued: “Hopefully we can get a quarter-hourly service. It’s
quite a densely populated part of the city so it’s perfectly feasible that lots
of people in the area would use it.
“It gives people the opportunity to get on the train at Abbeyhill rather than
have to go up to Princes Street. It would be like the Haymarket of the east.
There are some potential sites for development around Abbeyhill too - it could
give a boost to the area.”
The group called on the support of candidates during the Scottish elections
for the proposals and on Wednesday will welcome local MSPs and councillors to
hear their case.
“I think if we can get political support it could be possible because it’s a
very modest, small scale project,” added Mr Marshall.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 2 from 7.30pm in London
Road Church Hall.
IN DETAIL
CRAG
Picture: Kim Traynor
* * * * *
Edinburgh "Evening News" article, 2nd November
2011:
from http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/transport/rail_group_claims_abbeyhill_can_form_part_of_1bn_project_1_1942851
Rail group claims Abbeyhill can form part of £1bn project
Abbeyhill train station in the 1960s
RAIL campaigners say that a £1 billion project to improve train links between
Edinburgh and Glasgow provides the best opportunity in 50 years to revive a
mothballed station in Abbeyhill.
The Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) argues that reopening the redundant
station would reduce congestion in the city and provide efficient transport
links to east Edinburgh.
It also argues that the financial impediments derailing previous attempts to
reopen the station could be negated by the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement
Programme (EGIP), which will relay rails almost to the old Abbeyhill Station
site – therefore carrying out a large proportion of the necessary
groundwork.
Speaking ahead of a community meeting tonight, Lawrence Marshall, chair of
CRAG, said it was the best chance in a generation to relaunch Abbeyhill station,
abandoned since 1963.
“The proposal we have for Network Rail is very modest and would probably only
require the building of one platform and access off London Road,” he said.
“Apart from that there’s not a lot to do apart from a few extra hundred yards
of track. In order to tackle congestion, we need to see swifter progress in
reopening some of the comprehensive rail network that the city previously
enjoyed.
“The Scottish Government has commissioned rail works in the Abbeyhill area as
part of EGIP. An opportunity exists, as an add-on to these works, to re-open
Abbeyhill Station. This would provide the area with a two-minute connection with
Waverley, a seven-minute connection with Haymarket, and would re-connect the
area with the regional and national rail network. We believe this proposal
represents a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to enhance rail facilities in
this part of Edinburgh.”
Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, appeared supportive of the aim and
said she hoped Network Rail would give due consideration to the proposals.
“EGIP is a massive programme of investment and it’s important that we get the
maximum value from the £1 billion that we spend,” she said.
“That proposal could improve access to the rail network in Edinburgh for many
people, and people have supported the idea of reopening the South Suburban
Railway for passenger traffic for years now.
“An integrated approach would relieve congestion on the railway network in
Edinburgh so I hope Network Rail give CRAG a fair hearing on their
proposals.”
Councillors and politicians as well as representatives from CRAG and Network
Rail are expected to attend tonight’s meeting at London Road Church Hall, which
begins at 7.30pm.
|
posted 1 Nov 2011 07:10 by Colin Howden
Capital Rail Action Group
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate use: Tuesday 1 November 2011
LOCAL TRANSPORT FOR A CONGESTED CAPITAL:
ACTION GROUP CALLS FOR RE-OPENING OF EDINBURGH'S ABBEYHILL STATION
At a meeting to be held in the Abbeyhill area of Edinburgh on Wednesday evening (see details below), the Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) [1] will be making the case for the re-opening of Abbeyhill Station.
CRAG Chair, Lawrence Marshall, said:
"Edinburgh is the second most congested city in Britain and the seventh in Europe. [2] In order to tackle congestion, we need to see swifter progress in reopening some of the comprehensive rail network that the City previously enjoyed.
"The Scottish Government has commissioned rail works in the Abbeyhill area as part of the 'Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme' ("EGIP"). An opportunity exists, as an add-on to these works, to re-open Abbeyhill Station to give those living and passing through this densely populated part of the city access to a fast, frequent rail service. This would provide the area with a two-minute connection with Waverley, a seven-minute connection with Haymarket, and would re-connect the area with the regional and national rail network. We believe this proposal represents a “once in a generation” opportunity to enhance rail facilities in this part of Edinburgh.
"CRAG welcomes the support already offered by local politicians and hopes that Wednesday's meeting, to be addressed by Network Rail, will mark a further stage in rail becoming again an option for travel within the capital".
ENDS
CONTACTS:
Lawrence Marshall
T: 0131 669 1336
M: 07501 121984
E: lawrence336@btinternet.com
W: www.capitalrail.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] See <http://www.capitalrail.org.uk/>
[2] See <http://www.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh_reaches_top_ten_list_of_congested_cities_1_1692077>.
[3] Information on the meeting:
CAPITAL RAIL ACTION GROUP
Meeting on Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and Abbeyhill
Presentations by Network Rail and Capital Rail Action Group
London Road Church Hall (top of Easter Road), Wednesday 2nd November 2011, 7.30 p.m.
* * * * *
The Case for Abbeyhill
Proposal
Network Rail Scotland, leading for Transport Scotland, propose, as part of the £1 billion Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), to relay rails on the currently redundant double track bed to the north of the existing main lines heading east from the Calton tunnels – almost to the old Abbeyhill station site. This is to provide stabling sidings to accommodate trains which at the moment block up platform capacity at Waverley – some intercity sets, for example, sit in Waverley for over an hour upon arrival before they depart again.
An opportunity therefore exists to consider extending these sidings beyond the old station site to enable passenger trains to once more serve Abbeyhill.
Previous studies into the reopening of Abbeyhill station have been based on the assumption that a full reopening of the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway would be necessary. Various factors, including cost, have mitigated against this option.
Since now much of the infrastructure required for this proposal will be delivered by EGIP, reopening Abbeyhill station should be possible at low marginal cost – especially if also utilising dwell times for ScotRail trains currently terminating at Waverley.
Benefits
Abbeyhill station is surrounded by the dense tenements of the Calton, Easter Road, London Road and Abbeyhill areas to the east of Edinburgh city centre. It is also close, as its name would suggest, to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.
The station site is also situated right below the busy main London Road with its many bus services offering connections eastwards and northwards. Passengers would be able to board the train at Abbeyhill for journeys to the west with easy interchange at Waverley for other onward rail journeys.
We believe this proposal represents a “once in a generation” opportunity to enhance rail facilities in this part of Edinburgh.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
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posted 21 Sep 2011 14:07 by lawrence336@btinternet.com
The Case for Abbeyhill
Proposal
Network Rail Scotland, leading for Transport Scotland, propose, as part of the £1 billion Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), to relay rails on the currently redundant double track bed to the north of the existing main lines heading east from the Calton tunnels – almost to the old Abbeyhill station site. This is to provide stabling sidings to accommodate trains which at the moment block up platform capacity at Waverley – some intercity sets, for example, sit in Waverley for over an hour upon arrival before they depart again.
An opportunity therefore exists to consider extending these sidings beyond the old station site to enable passenger trains to once more serve Abbeyhill.
Previous studies into the reopening of Abbeyhill station have been based on the assumption that a full reopening of the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway would be necessary. Various factors, including cost, have mitigated against this option.
Since now much of the infrastructure required for this proposal will be delivered by EGIP, reopening Abbeyhill station should be possible at low marginal cost – especially if also utilising dwell times for ScotRail trains currently terminating at Waverley.
Benefits
Abbeyhill station is surrounded by the dense tenements of the Calton, Easter Road, London Road and Abbeyhill areas to the east of Edinburgh city centre. It is also close, as its name would suggest, to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.
The station site is also situated right below the busy main London Road with its many bus services offering connections eastwards and northwards. Passengers would be able to board the train at Abbeyhill for journeys to the west with easy interchange at Waverley for other onward rail journeys.
We believe this proposal represents a “once in a generation” opportunity to enhance rail facilities in this part of Edinburgh. |
posted 18 May 2011 09:24 by Colin Howden
Dear (Scotsman) Editor,
No doubt there will be many SNP MSPs and Councillors rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of the Edinburgh tram project being cancelled due to lack of additional funding. After all, they have spent the past five years trying to achieve that very outcome. However, I suspect this may prove to be a Pyrrhic victory for several reasons.
First of all it will make Scotland the laughing stock of the world if it fails to deliver a tram network, something our French neighbours have achieved in at least ten cities in the past decade with very successful outcomes. What message does this send to business investors about Scottish engineering and project management capability?
More seriously, it sees the demise of the only green transport project on the Scottish Government's agenda. Despite the way the tram has been trivialised as only a replacement the 22 bus, the route actually encompasses several major business and residential areas, as well as three new rail/tram interchanges at Edinburgh Gateway (Gogar), Edinburgh Park and Haymarket. Significant infrastructure enhancements! What business is going to relocate to Edinburgh with its 1960s style congested city centre when they can relocate to Bordeaux or Lyon with their efficient transport networks?
The press and major business leaders need to speak up in support and explain to the public, possibly for the first time, the many major infrastructure and business benefits that the project will deliver. The Scottish Government need to get behind this major project to ensure completion of the scheme voted through by Parliament, perhaps with Transport Scotland taking control in view of its national importance.
Yours sincerely
John Webster |
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