Calls have been made for an investigation into the “fiasco” surrounding a project to slash rail journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt.
In 2008, the SNP government announced it would invest £200million on rail infrastructure upgrades to speed up trips between the Granite City and Edinburgh by 20 minutes.
This commitment was re-announced in 2016 as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal. However, a consultants’ meeting in 2018 heard the sum would only deliver two-minute savings by 2026.
Members of the city deal steering group were told journey times would improve because of changes to the timetable rather than physical works.
North East MSP Douglas Lumsden was told only £16.3million of the fund has been spent so far, with only a year to go of the city deal window.
The Scottish Conservative MSP has challenged SNP minister Fiona Hyslop. It follows a challenge to former transport secretary Michael Matheson to provide an update on progress in December 2020.
Mr Lumsden said: “The SNP must deliver on the £200million promises of 2008 and 2016 to cut passenger journey times while improving services.
“The clear message was that investment would slash 20 minutes from Aberdeen to Edinburgh – benefiting rail users along that entire route. My worry is they will continue to cut ScotRail timetables and skipping stops to fulfil this promise.
“This is a fiasco now 16 years in the making. Any government would have the common sense to show even an iota of delivery on a pledge almost 20 years old.
“Timetable changes weren’t what north-east businesses and rail passengers had been asking for.”
Work to remodel a junction to the east of Perth was completed back in 2023
(Image: Network Rail)
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “An Aberdeen to Central Belt Key Stakeholders Group meets quarterly to keep stakeholders informed of progress and is attended by an Aberdeen City Region Deal representative, Nestrans, Tactran, Network Rail and ScotRail.
“The package comprises signal enhancements, improvements to station layouts at Dundee, Aberdeen, Arbroath and Montrose, and specific capacity alterations, including freight loops, to facilitate the mixed operation of faster and slower trains on the same route.
“Options for implementing the next stage of the Aberdeen–Central Belt Service Improvements Project remain under consideration. In the interim, design works are continuing and are fully funded in 2024/25.
“We remain firmly committed to infrastructure investment as a key factor in securing economic growth and high-quality public infrastructure across Scotland, including spending over £1.6 billion in 2024-25 to operate, maintain and improve Scotland’s railway.
“Aberdeen and the north east have benefitted from significant rail enhancements in recent years, including the re-doubling of the line to Inverurie which has enabled a half-hourly service to Aberdeen and an hourly “cross-rail” service to Montrose.
“Kintore Station has opened and Aberdeen Station has been extensively refurbished, with a contribution from the Scottish Government in excess of £8 million.”
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So far work has taken place on a handful of key sections along the route to improve line speeds and remove timetabling constrains between Aberdeen and Glasgow.
In 2023, a £6.8million project between the Tay Viaduct and Barnhill to the east of Perth saw a junction remodelled to increase the line speed from 20mph to 50mph.
Meanwhile at Dunblane new points were installed in January 2024 to allow Edinburgh and Glasgow-bound services to clear the way for services to the north-east.
Other proposed works include the reinstatement of platforms at Aberdeen and Arbroath and the addition of a third platform at Montrose to allow further timetabling flexibility, and the upgrading of signalling equipment between Dundee and Aberdeen.
As well, new passing loops could be installed to facilitate a mix of faster passenger services and slower freight trains between the cities.