Angus MP concerned by threat to north-east's London train services
An Angus MP says a change to rail services would have a detrimental effect on the county's economy.
- By Graeme Strachan
- Published in the Courier : 09.01.12
- Published online : 09.01.12 @ 04.23pm
Direct trains linking the north and north-east to London could be scrapped as part of cost-cutting measures being considered by the UK Government.
Mike Weir has called on Transport Scotland to support the continuation of direct rail services between London and Aberdeen.
The east coast line has one service daily between King's Cross and Inverness and four to and from Aberdeen.
The Inverness service passes through Aviemore, Pitlochry and Perth, while the Aberdeen trains stop at Stonehaven, Montrose, Arbroath and Dundee.
In their consultation on rail services they suggest that such services should terminate at Edinburgh with passengers changing to ScotRail trains for services further north.
Mr Weir says that would harm the economies of Angus and Aberdeenshire.
There has been a direct service between London and Aberdeen since the mid 19th century.
Mr Weir said: ''Whilst recognising the point made in the consultation that there are fewer passengers travelling on direct services north of Edinburgh, they nonetheless are important for the local economies of Angus and Aberdeen and abandoning stops at Arbroath, Montrose and Stonehaven would be very damaging.
''If this was to be done then it would mean that all passengers travelling from the north-east would require to change at Edinburgh.
''The passenger journey time is likely to be increased. It is already a very long rail journey — six and half hours from Montrose to London — and any increase in time due to changes would likely result in a reduction in those using rail services.
''The net effect would likely be an increase in air traffic which would impact adversely on the Scottish Government's targets of reducing carbon emissions.
''At present someone travelling from Edinburgh to London is probably as quick, taking into account boarding times, in taking the train as flying since the existing service by train will reach London in around four hours.
''It is a very different situation from Aberdeen where the difference between the time taken to travel by air and that taken by the train are already substantial.''
05.00pm - 09.01.2012 mark - dundee, scotland Report This
we use the train direct to london all the time, its an excellent service and should be left as it is. having to change at edinburgh just makes the service less attractive and would certainly put us off using it
05.41pm - 09.01.2012 Peter Liddell - Glasgow, Scotland Report This
He's missed the train on this one! The consultation came out over a month ago and the Scottish Government have signalled that services won't be axed. Both UK and Scottish Governments have confirmed too that the sleeper is safe. Talk about the train having left the station?
05.45pm - 09.01.2012 Kysheena Morton - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Image is of a Cross Country train which does not serve London or stations to Inverness.
08.50pm - 09.01.2012 Steve Scott - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Bit rich. It's his party, through it's agency Transport Scotland, that have put the direct services on a shoogly peg! Of course they should be retained. The Edinburgh hub is a nonsense plan, and it's all about empire building.
10.54pm - 09.01.2012 Olly - Dundee, UK Report This
@ Mark, likewise here. If we wanted to visit Edinburgh we would do it in our own time and not on a visit to London. Leave well alone.
10.05am - 10.01.2012 Lindsay Wyllie - Montrose, Scotland Report This
I live in Montrose. At the moment I use both rail and air services. This would be final straw given rail ticket prices and this cessation of direct trains. It would bethe plane for us.
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