This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Investment in Scotland's railways
19/12/2006
A new fund worth over £20 million aimed at refurbishing trains and improving stations was announced today.
Transport Minister Tavis Scott said:
"This investment will directly improve passengers' travel experience - ensuring comfortable, high quality journeys through small, targeted local projects improving both our trains and our stations.
"Rail passenger numbers are now growing across Scotland - 21 per cent since 2003 - and I want our devolved government to ensure we keep this trend going upwards.
"Last week we published our vision for Scotland's rail network, alongside the future enhancements which will help deliver that vision for a world class railway. This new fund complements the exciting investments we are already making such as rail links to airports, Borders Railway and Larkhall to Milngavie, which has moved 325,000 passengers in its first year.
Mary Dickson, Managing Director of First ScotRail said:
"This funding will see First ScotRail deliver a number of enhancements to station facilities, train refurbishments, security and information provision. This is in addition to the improvements passengers are already benefiting from through our own station investment programme and I am confident that through continuing to deliver a high quality service, we can encourage more people to choose rail travel as their preferred mode of transport."
Robert Samson, Passenger Link Manager, Passenger Focus said:
"This significant funding package will secure many improvements to rail services including, improved rolling stock and information provision. Passengers will benefit with improved quality of rail travel and station facilities.
"Scotland's rail service is attracting more passengers and is seeing a steady improvement in performance and the investment announced today can only further enhance public transport as a viable alternative to other modes of travel".
This investment follows on from the publication last week of the National Transport Strategy, and in particular Scotland's Railways, building on the major project investment already underway
Background:
Through Transport Scotland, Scottish Ministers fund and specify the First ScotRail franchise and agree the infrastructure outputs that Network Rail deliver in Scotland. Scottish Executive funding is also delivered to rail through Transport Scotland's major rail projects programme.
See full details of improvements being delivered inlcuding lists for local stations.
From the Small Rail Fund over £11m will refurbish:
158 refurb worth £9 million: Twenty five (two car) train units will receive new seating, improved lighting, extra luggage space, additional cycle racks, refurbished toilets, improved train entrances.
This will benefit users of the Far North Line, Kyle Line, and Inverness to Aberdeen Line.
156 refurb worth £2.7 million: Twenty (two car) units will receive new seating, improved lighting and furnishings, new table tops, carpeting throughout, and inclusion of wheelchair space.
This will benefit users of the West Highland Line, Glasgow South West Line and Ayr-Girvan-Stranraer Lines.
From the Small Rail Fund £9.4 million will go to a national station improvement programme. 241 stations out of 341 across Scotland will benefit - two out of every three. Improvements includes expansion of CCTV and customer information systems, additional Ticket Vending Machines to reduce queuing, a programme of car park expansion and installation of over 300 Help Point Induction Loops at stations throughout Scotland. A £700,000 package in partnership with HITRANS and First ScotRail is also provided to improve Fort William station as an interchange for tourists and commuters.