MSP’ s plea to protect ‘jewel’ steam railway

Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth is being urged to step in to protect “a jewel in the crown of Angus” after a funding snub, despite warnings it could cause “significant” financial risks.

Last month the Caledonian Railway in Brechin asked Angus Council to bid for £18 million of levelling-up cash from the UK Government.

Those behind the popular tourist attraction, which operates a train on a four-mile stretch between Brechin and Bridge of Dun, had hoped they could use the money to extend the railway and bring more events to the 174-year-old station.

They said this could bring in £20m in tourism to the region in the next five years.

But Angus officials said it was too much of a financial risk to the local authority, as it would be responsible for underwriting the project.

North East MSP Liam Kerr now wants the transport minister to find the cash for the project and “get the job done”.

The Conservative MSP wrote to Ms Gilruth and to Margo Williamson, chief executive of Angus Council, asking them to visit the attraction.

He said “the majority” of councillors wanted to apply for levelling-up cash, but they had “little concept” of how much work submitting a bid would involve. Mr Kerr said: “There was a pot of around £150,000 which could have been spent on a professional bid writer, if the council did not have the time and resources to research it themselves.”

He added funding Caledonian Railway’s proposals could be the “single biggest boost in the history of Angus tourism”.

Jon Gill, chairman of Brechin Caledonian Railway, said: “I am frustrated because the decision was made by a group of councillors who have not been to the railway to find out if it is worth funding.”

A spokeswoman for Angus Council said: “To be clear, it is the council that would be fully responsible for underwriting this project, and that could have impacted on other areas of service delivery to communities in Angus.”

They added the council is looking to find alternative means of funding the project and said it is working on making sure it is prepared to bid for levelling-up cash in 2023.

The Scottish Government was approached for comment.

SNUBBED? Caledonian Railway is an Angus tourist attraction. Picture by Kim Cessford.