Derailtrainplans

Proposed new rail routes, eg to Fraserburgh and St Andrews, would serve only a tiny percentage of the population but cost hundreds of millions of pounds and require ongoing public subsidy to operate.

When essential public services such as health, education and road maintenance are curtailed by lack of funds and 20 per cent of households experience poverty, for the government to support these proposals would be grossly irresponsible. There is no point in favouring feasibility studies unless there is a willingness to finance projects.

The Borders Railway is purported to be a great success. However, I know of no comprehensive study of the costs and benefits involved and comparison of other ways in which the public funds might have been spent. A proper analysis of any policy or project should indicate just which groups, eg children,