Network Rail presented on 24 August 2006, for consultation, more than 40 options for developing Scotland’s railway. Proposals include ways to improve busy routes in the central belt, boost the capacity of the network and enhance punctuality of train services across Scotland.

The options presented in Network Rail’s Scotland Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) will address the diverse and growing demands made on Scotland’s railway. These challenges include catering for millions of passengers commuting into Glasgow and Edinburgh while also providing rural lifeline services that experience considerable seasonal fluctuation in demand.

The consultation document identifies the present day challenges and invites stakeholders to consider a variety of potential solutions, such as:
• Platform extensions to facilitate longer trains on key routes
• Electrification of the Whifflet line to provide additional capacity at Glasgow Central
• Additional services and line speed improvements for the Edinburgh-Fife-Aberdeen route

Network Rail’s Deputy Chief Executive, Iain Coucher, said: “This consultation looks at the challenges facing the rail industry in Scotland, it presents a series of ambitious, but realistic, options for getting the best out of the network and allowing up to 30% passenger growth over the next ten years.Consultation is a key part of the route strategy process and we look forward to hearing the views of a wide range of interested parties, including local authorities and regional development agencies.  The final strategy document will present policy makers with a factual analysis, allowing them to make decisions on what projects will be funded and taken forward.”

Network Rail and its key transport partners in Scotland (including Transport Scotland, First Scotrail, GNER, the Association of Train Operating Companies, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and the freight operating companies) have been working for the past year to develop this draft route strategy. 

The consultation will last until 16 November 2006. Further rigorous analysis and appraisal will be done on the options to ensure that only those offering greatest benefit to passengers and best value for money are included in the final strategy, which will be published in Spring 2007.