ScotRail to install electric points to improve carbon footprint

Electric car charging points are to be installed at three Perthshire railway stations.

Work to install the equipment will begin in September, with rail bosses hoping to have them operational by November.

ScotRail has planned to move to encourage more people to use the low-emission vehicles while using the stations.

Perth, Gleneagles and Pitlochry are three of the 50 sites across Scotland which will benefit from the equipment.

The charging points will be free to use, and can charge two cars at once, though drivers will still need to pay car park fees.

ScotRail Alliance’s programmes and transformation director, Ian McConnell, said: “As a lowcarbon transport provider, we are always looking for new ways to encourage more environmentally-friendly travel.

“Through the installation of these 100 electric car parking spaces, we hope to reduce our customers’ carbon footprint from door-to-door.

“We have big plans to improve our car parks, and this is just one of the many improvements we have planned for the next 12 months.”

Perth and Kinross Council has already installed vehicle charging points at the South Inch car park, where there is space for nine vehicles, and at the park and ride at Broxden, which can accommodate 12 electric vehicles.

The city centre site caused controversy among drivers who complained that while it was free to access the Broxden equipment, they had to pay to use those at the South Inch.

Across the region, similar facilities are available in Aberfeldy, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Dunkeld, Kinross and Pitlochry.