This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Support gets Aberdeen Crossrail on track
10/06/2005
Improved rail services to Inverurie and Dyce and a
detailed feasibility study to investigate the potential for
new services and stations in the area was announced
today.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen announced improved
services by the end of the year, as well as £400,000
towards a detailed Aberdeen crossrail feasibility
study.
The funding will allow NESTRANS to commission work to
look at providing additional services between Inverurie and
Stonehaven and new stations north and south of
Aberdeen.
Nicol Stephen said:
"Aberdeen crossrail is a very important project. It will
help reduce congestion by providing better public transport
links across the region. It will also boost the economic
prospects of the area by improving access to jobs and
education.
"The improved services will include increased calls at
Inverurie station and an improved evening service. There
will also be extra calls at Dyce station.
"The study is also an important step forward. It will
quantify the benefits of the full crossrail scheme and the
detailed costs involved.
"The Executive's Partnership Agreement already commits
our support to developing this project. These improved
services and major development study demonstrate
significant progress.
The changes will come into effect at the end of this
year.
Councillor Kate Dean, Chair of NESTRANS and Leader of
Aberdeen City Council said:
"I am delighted that the Minister has today announced
two of the steps which progress towards the delivery of an
Aberdeen crossrail.
"Aberdeen crossrail, from Inverurie to Aberdeen and
Stonehaven, remains one of our key objectives in our Modern
Transport Strategy. By working together with the Scottish
Executive and other agencies we will be looking to deliver
at the earliest opportunity."
Commenting on the increased services to Inverurie and
Dyce Cllr Alison McInnes, Vice Chair of NESTRANS and Chair
of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services
Committee said:
"This is very welcome news. The number of trains
servicing Inverurie will increase from 24 to 31, while the
number of trains stopping at Dyce will increase from 46 to
49. These extra services see part of an incremental
establishment of a crossrail service and begin to make it a
reality.
"There have been calls for increased services for years
in Dyce and Inverurie. I am sure this will encourage more
commuters to leave the car at home, and instead catch the
train. These services will also help relieve the
congestion problems approaching Aberdeen from Inverurie and
Dyce, and also within the city itself."
The Aberdeen crossrail report will be prepared by
consultants Jacobs Babtie and completed by November
2006.
Funding for the study will come from the Executive's
Transport budget.
In March 2001, the Executive awarded £466,000 from the
public Transport Fund to Aberdeenshire Council to produce a
feasibility study for Aberdeen crossrail on the basis that
the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) proposals would be
carried out. The SRA subsequently withdrew their commitment
and NESTRANS took the development of the project on. This
first report was received by the Executive in May this
year.