Transport chiefs are facing calls to “pay back” £200 million to the north-east amid allegations they have turned their back on a decade-long promise to overhaul a “notorious” rail bottleneck.
The Scottish Government has been accused of “betraying” rail passengers by deciding to scrap plans to carry out long-awaited rail improvements south of Aberdeen.
Opposition politicians have claimed a senior transport official revealed to them that dualling at Montrose “will never happen”, despite the Scottish Government committing to the scheme a decade ago.
The proposals were first unveiled in 2008, with the government outlining an upgrade of the Usan junction, the last single-track stretch on the East Coast line.
The government then re-iterated its plans at the beginning of 2016 as part of the wider £200m investment to improve journey times, which was part of the overall £254m Holyrood package unveiled at the same time as the UK Government’s £250m City Region Deal.
The one-and-a-half mile section of single track between Usan and the South Esk viaduct at Montrose Basin, the only one of its kind between Aberdeen and London, means that at certain times trains have to slow down and wait for others to pass.
However, despite Transport Scotland and Network Rail stressing that all options are still being considered, North East MSP Liam Kerr claims he was privately told by an official that the proposals had been permanently ruled out.
Mr Kerr has now called on the Transport Minister Humza Yousaf to guarantee the dualling is still on the table, or pay back the £200m promised.
Last night, local rail campaigner Gordon Casely said that any U-turn on the plans would be an “absolute disgrace” and a major let-down for the region’s economy.
He said: “This is the 21st century and Aberdeen needs a 21st rail service.
“We have had a serious blow from the oil downturn and part of the recovery from that will be improving our infrastructure making us ready to serve the North Sea and our other industries.
“If the double-tracking was due to go ahead and now is not, it would be an absolute disgrace.”
Mr Kerr said: “In a recent meeting a senior transport figure said dualling will never happen, which seems like a betrayal of promises frequently made.
“I want to find out what other means they have found of speeding up these journeys between Aberdeen and Dundee – or stump up the cash they promised.”
He has now written to the minister demanding clarity on the future of the plans.
In his letter, he stated: “The delays caused by this bottleneck are considerable and thus, with the eminently laudable aim of reducing journey times between Aberdeen and Dundee, and beyond, this would seem to be a great initiative.
“I have heard recently that the focus of the investigation into journey times has moved away from dualling the railway track at Usan and that savings in time will be sought through other means.”
A Transport Scotland woman insisted: ” “This is not the position of Transport Scotland or the official position of the reference group and no decision has been taken.”
Transport Scotland has said consultants are currently producing a report detailing options to improve journey times along the entire length of the route.
The spokeswoman added: “We expect the final report this summer and the proposed options will then be considered by the reference group, and presented to ministers before a decision is made on progress towards delivery.”
Network Rail confirmed it was working with Transport Scotland to look at a range of options.
