Sorting out Scotland’s transport infrastructure isn’t just a case of thinking big
I’d like to respond to Jamie Greene MSP’S piece on 2 January, “Scotland has to think big on transport, like Thatcher and Brunel”.
Were Mr Greene to view “Thatcher’s achievements” through Scotland’s lens for a few moments, he would require no handkerchief for his dewy-eyed reminisces.
Patrick Mcloughlin, who served as one of her Transport Ministers in 1989, admitted in recent years that “the problem in Scotland was decades of underinvestment in transport infrastructure”. His stark confession was an admission of years of Tory failure in Scotland, which is why our focus since 2007 has been to turn that tide of under-investment.
Our £20 billion transport investment over the last decade is already improving Scotland’s connectivity and helping stimulate Scotland’s economic growth.
The new £1.35 billion Queensferry Crossing on the Forth Estuary is as iconic as it is resilient, and will serve our economy, businesses and road users well for the next 120 years.
The £745 million Aberdeen bypass, so long ignored by other governments, is finally moving into its final phases of construction. The motorway network around Glasgow has seen the M74 “Missing Link” completed, the M80 upgraded, and a further half billion pounds invested to deliver major improvements to the network, including a new interchange at Raith on the M74, which was for years notorious for tailbacks.
Mr Greene shows contempt for smaller transport schemes, but they are no less important to local communities who feel their benefits. Campaigners who fought for more than 50 years for a bypass around Mosstodloch on the A96, or road users on that same road benefiting from the removal of the bottleneck at Inveramsay Bridge, or the community of Crianlarich on the A82 who have seen traffic through the town halved – all are worthy transport schemes delivered by this government.
We are providing the solid economic foundations needed for all of Scotland’s cities to thrive in the future – that’s why we’ve already started building a fully dualled A9 from Perth to Inverness, and are preparing the way for dualling the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen, which will finally connect all of our cities with a road network fit for the 21st century.
On rail, we’ve invested nearly £8bn since 2007 to enhance the network, increasing daily services to 2,300, with a further 200 from next year. Some 160 extra carriages have been added to Scotrail’s fleet with an additional 200 to follow.
We returned rail services to the Borders after Beeching’s cuts nearly 50 years ago, are now operating the Airdriebathgate line and its new stations, and have reopened the Stirling-alloa-kincardine line. The network has expanded with 76km of new track built, and we’re electrifying the rail network across the Central Belt.
Our approach to identifying our transport priorities, and how we will deliver them will give Scotland’s businesses and communities the assurance and confidence needed to thrive further.
Mr Greene would do well to get on board and support the Scottish Government, rather than criticise from the sidings.
KEITH BROWN Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work