This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister welcomes Parliament's first rail Bill
26/02/2003
Plans to re-open the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link
took a step forward today with the first private rail bill
presented to the Scottish Parliament.
The railway bill was presented to Parliament by
Clackmannanshire Council in partnership with the Scottish
Executive, Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley, the Strategic
Rail Authority (SRA) and other partners and is the first
piece of private rail legislation to go before the
Parliament since the transfer of powers from
Westminster.
Welcoming the Bill, Transport Minister Iain Gray
said:
"Today is a historic day as we are able to see the
benefits of the transfer of railway powers to the
Parliament that is allowing this important project to move
closer to becoming a reality.
"Re-opening of the line has strategic benefits not only
for the local area but the Scottish rail network as a whole
and we are committed to ensuring that the project is
delivered as early as possible.
"The progress being made today on this project
demonstrates the Executive's commitment to delivering rail
infrastructure improvements across the network. These
improvemetns will mean that rail can play an even bigger
role in connecting our communities, supporting our local
economies and providing quality public transport."
The project plans to re-open the railway between
Stirling and Alloa to passenger and freight services,
reconnecting Alloa to the national rail network and
allowing through freight to Kincardine and Dunfermline via
Longannet. It will also take freight off the Forth Bridge
and improve passenger services between Fife and
Edinburgh.
Powers to promote and construct new railways that start
and end in Scotland were transferred from Westminster to
the Scottish Parliament in June 2002
The Scottish Executive plays a leading role in the
project team to take forward work on the Stirling, Alloa,
Kincardine line. The team is working to a timetable to
achieve Royal Assent in Spring 2004, the contract for
detailed design and construction to be let in Spring 2004,
and opening in 2005-2006.