Central Scotland MSP, Graham Simpson, will lead a Members’ business debate in The Scottish Parliament, following the announcement in October that the line will remain single track and funding previously allocated for the project is being spent elsewhere.
The debate is expected to take place next Wednesday (December 8) and has cross party support.
The Scottish Government had promised last July that the line between East Kilbride and Busby would be dualled and electrified in their ‘Decarbonisation Action Plan’.
The Tory MSP will argue the Government’s decision is short-sighted and could leave residents in the town with a sub-standard and irregular service. It is also a missed opportunity to improve local public transport connections which would shift people away from using cars at the benefit to the environment.
Mr Simpson, the Shadow Transport Minister, is also calling on local MSPs from all parties to take part in the debate and hold the Government’s feet to the fire on this issue.
Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland said: “This is an opportunity for all local MSPs to nail their colours to the mast and say where they stand on this.
“There must be no weasel words, no fudging – are they in favour of the original plan to dual the line or not?
“East Kilbride deserves better than this. We need a more-reliable service and we need more-frequent trains.
“I will be setting out in detail why the town needs this and, indeed, will say why we could go even further.
“The town is growing at a phenomenal rate, so you can’t base decisions on current levels of passenger use. We need to build a green future for the town and that has to involve the railway.”
Notes:
Motion ref: S6M-01675, East Kilbride Rail Line Dualling. That the Parliament notes the announcement by Transport Scotland that the single track part of the rail line between East Kilbride and Glasgow is not now going to be dualled as, it understands, had previously been promised, and that the money will be spent elsewhere; sees this is an opportunity to persuade more people to travel by train missed; notes the view that improving public transport connections is vital if Scotland is to achieve a shift away from cars, and further notes calls on the Scottish Government to reconsider what it considers to be this short-sighted move.
