Investment in rail ‘could bring boost of £1million’

INVESTMENT in the East Coast Main Line could bring a boost of more than £1 million to the economies of Dundee and Tayside, according to transport chiefs.

The Consortium of East Coast Main Line Authorities (ECMA) is made up of local authorities on the East Coast Main Line who have come together to investigate business options for the route.

The group — which includes Tactran — has published a report urging the Scottish and UK governments to invest £3 billion on improving the route.

Tactran’s partnership board was due to meet today to discuss the potential impact of the investment.

Tactran chairman Will Dawson said the l ocal economy would benefit hugely from a major investment in the rail line.

Mr Dawson, who is also city development convener for Dundee City Council, said: “The East Coast Line is starting to look a bit tired.

“It’s just not had as much investment over the years as the West Coast Line.

“So we decided that our role was to see it improved.

“Rail is still a very viable means of travel and one we should be benefitting from.”

The East Coast Line runs from London to Aberdeen, via York and Edinburgh.

Mr Dawson said: “All roads lead to London and we can use this to estimate how much financial benefit each area could get. We estimate that the wider economic impacts of an investment in the train line would bring £550,00 to Dundee alone.

“Montrose has also been proposed as worth £400,000, with other areas nearby also getting a small boost.

“It would see more than £1 million come in to the area.

“This is our idea of bringing in a gold standard.”

Mr Dawson said it was the joint responsibility of both Westminster and Holyrood to help deliver a boost to a train line slowly falling into disrepair.

He said: “We’re calling on the governments to spend the money.

“We, along with everyone else on the route, would benefit hugely. It’s a plan for the future of the area.”

Tactran is one of seven statutory regional transport partnerships covering the whole of Scotland.