Travel agents condemn London rail link cut plan
The Scottish Passenger Agents' Association, which campaigns on behalf of travel agents in Scotland, has hit out at the proposed withdrawal of direct Aberdeen to London trains.
Dundee rail station
- By Jennifer Cosgrove
- Published in the Courier : 10.08.10
- Published online : 10.08.10 @ 05.29pm
It has protested to the UK Department for Transport over the proposals contained in Sir Andrew Foster's review for the withdrawal of direct services from Aberdeen and Inverness to London, in favour of connecting services via Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The SPAA argues that the move would significantly increase overall journey times for people travelling from the north of Scotland, including Dundee, and would make people favour air travel over rail.
Jim McGovern, MP for the west of the city, who has campaigned for improvements to Dundee station, criticised the proposals last week, saying he was "extremely disappointed."
SPAA vice-president Kevin Thom said the UK Government's preference for accelerated development of regional rail services in a bid to reduce UK domestic air travel was "entirely inconsistent with this proposal."
He said, "This will seriously undermine support for rail travel amongst both leisure and business travellers in the north of Scotland, many of whom already face lengthy connecting journeys to and from Aberdeen and Inverness.
"In addition, having to begin or complete their journey on trains which do not provide popular intercity amenities such as Wi-Fi access, power points and comprehensive catering, will further erode support for long-haul rail travel — they will simply take to the air."
The SPAA has written to Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond, stating its concerns and asking for his urgent and substantive response.
Mr Thom added, "We are seeking (his) assurance that there will be genuine and extensive consultation before any such erosion of vital direct rail services takes place.
"We are also suggesting that, far from undermining the existing long-haul rail network in the UK, the government should be contributing to the electrification of the lines between central Scotland and the north."
Photo courtesy of Stewart Lloyd-Jones.
Add a comment