By Dave Lord

THE NUMBER of fatal accidents on the notorious A9 will increase until big businesses ease the burden by utilising rail freight, it has been claimed.

The arterial Perth-to-Inverness route was recently labelled Scotland’s most dangerous road and Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser believes constant use by HGVs is increasing the accident risk.

A parliamentary question lodged by the politician has called on the Scottish Executive to actively encourage supermarkets, retailers and businesses who use the A9 to form a “rail freight consortium.”

The recent loss of the English Welsh and Scottish (EWS) container rail service to Inverness was described as “bad news” by Mr Fraser.

He added that Morrison’s recent takeover of Safeway—and the subsequent sale of stores which had goods delivered via the rail freight service—was a devastating blow.

Mr Fraser wrote to Morrison’s chairman, Sir Kenneth Morrison, asking him why the supermarket decided to end the use of the EWS container service to Inverness.

In response, Chris Blundell, Morrison supermarkets corporate affairs director, stated, “As you are aware we ceased to use the rail service from Mossend (Glasgow) to Inverness in May 2005.

“Up to this time, the service was used to support our store delivery programme to the Highlands.

“In total we have sold 60 smaller stores in Scotland to Somerfield.

“The key reason for ending the service was the sale of specific stores supplied in this way—namely Kirkwall, Wick, Thurso, Ullapool, Nairn, Buckie and Elgin.

“Two reasons made the train operation unsustainable:

1) The reduction in volume due to store sales led EWS to reduce the frequency from daily to weekly.

2) Following the conversion of our Bellshill depot and the Inverness store to a Morrison’s format, the train departure time did not support our operation.”

Mr Fraser believes the decline in rail use is likely to cause yet more accidents on the killer road.

“The loss of the rail freight service to Inverness is bad news for commuters who use the A9,” he remarked.

“The freight that was transported by rail has now been pushed on to the roads.

“This will only add to traffic congestion and increased risk of accidents.”

“Although I understand that—based on commercial concerns—Morrison’s had no choice but to end their use of rail freight, the outcome will be felt by road users on the A9.”

Mr Fraser wants Holyrood to play its part in encouraging businesses to consider easing the burden on the road.

“I believe the answer lies in the Scottish Executive instigating a ‘rail freight consortium’ to resume the rail freight services and take pressure off the A9,” he added.