Transform Scotland, the sustainable transport alliance, has expressed its support for the ‘Fast Track Scotland’ high-speed rail plans being launched by the Scottish Government.

Transform Scotland is a signatory to the document.

Transform Scotland spokesperson Paul Tetlaw commented:

“We support the case for high speed rail links from England to Scotland. This could bring about significant modal shifts from the car and the plane to the train.

“Anglo-Scottish high-speed rail services could help us meet important environmental targets by knocking out carbon-intensive short-haul flights from Scotland to London.

“The clear challenges posed by climate change and depleting world oil supplies means that we need to improve both capacity and journey times by rail.

“We need rail investment as climate change targets start to bite and oil becomes more scarce and more expensive.

“The existing rail network does not have the capacity for the growth that will be required in the future for journeys from Scotland to London, the Midlands and the North of England.

“New lines and upgrades to existing routes are clearly required.”