Trains can put us on track for a bright future

Sir, – I recently visited Perth by rail from Glasgow and enjoyed a delightful weekend.

Accommodation in Scone Road was excellent.

The food, drink, atmosphere and weather were all of a very high standard.

I would say how well connected the Fair City is to most of the rest of Scotland.

Strong rail and road links connect big tree county’s nerve centre to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness.

We need to develop our railways to take them forward, allowing them to compete fully when much of our rolling stock becomes obsolete.

High speed trains are now running in their final incarnation after a thorough refurbishment.

The higher power to weight ratio will help maintain performance on the extensive, steep gradients, leaving us surely five to eight years at most to find a dependable, super fast replacement.

We have had calls from the top level at Scotrail to electrify from Glasgow Queen Street (surely also from Edinburgh Waverley) an express line to Perth.

Add a new station at Blackford, perhaps another at Luncarty, and we will draw in much more patronage.

We need an ongoing scheme of redoubling all track from Perth to Aberdeen and Inverness.

Finally we need to initiate the St John’s Link across Central Glasgow allowing through trains from Ayrshire and Renfrewshire directly through the city towards Stirling, Perth and beyond.

Graham Lund. Dalrymple Street, Girvan.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Our rail systems could be the key to our future if we keep them in good condition.