New multi-million pound rail upgrade works have begun in Aberdeen.
Network Rail last night confirmed that signals were being improved at Craiginches to boost the number of trains that can run through the city.
At the time of the signing of the Aberdeen City Region Deal in January, 2016, the Scottish Government pledged an additional £200million to increase capacity on rail links between Aberdeen and the Central Belt.
Political opponents over the period said there had been a failure to deliver on the pledge.
But a new paper to Friday’s city deal committee says early works have now begun.
The report reads: “The initial analysis has already identified signalling capacity constraints immediately south of Aberdeen as an early priority. Work is underway now with the target (deliverability to be confirmed) to install capacity enhancing additional signals in the next twelve months.
“We look forward to continued progress over the forthcoming months, to agree the best possible outcomes from the £200 million investment committed to the development and operation of this rail corridor.”
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “We’re currently delivering signalling enhancement work at Craiginches where we’re creating a crossover to allow trains to move more easily between the northbound and southbound lines – which will increase the number of trains that we can run.
“This work is ongoing, but is expected to be completed by summer 2019.”
He added that while an exact figure was not available yet it was a “multimillion investment” and was “complementary to the city deal”.
North-east Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said: “I welcome any investment to improve rail links between Aberdeen and the Central Belt.
“However, it is difficult to see exactly what progress has been made since this £200million announcement more than two years ago.
“Signalling capacity upgrades would be a good start, but we were promised that the track would be doubled at Usan Junction.
“By this time, we should have had specific plans on the table with a detailed timeline for delivery. Anything less is just not good enough.
“The SNP said at the time of the City Region Deal that there would be investment in the north-east and improvements to journey times.”
