An Aberdeenshire councillor has claimed transport chiefs should look to the United States when planning new links in the north-east and build a dual carriageway and railroad side by side.
Yesterday, it was the turn of Buchan councillors to discuss multimillion-pound plans to modernise road and rail links north of Aberdeen along the A90 corridor.
North-east transport partnership Nestrans is in the midst of appraising options which will shape the infrastructure of the region and have called on local councillors to give their views.
During the Buchan area committee meeting in Peterhead, councillor Alan Gardiner proposed looking across the Atlantic for inspiration.
The independent councillor said: “In the Peterhead area – and Fraserburgh as well – the infrastructure is not fit for purpose, nothing like it, neither road, nor rail.
“If you take the American example, you would often see the rail line runs alongside the road.
“It makes sense that, if you are looking at additional ground for a dual carriageway, you buy enough space for rail as well, even if it doesn’t happen at the same time.”
Mr Gardiner’s fellow committee members echoed his suggestion that a combination of road and rail upgrades, along the A90 Aberdeen to Peterhead and Fraserburgh route, would be the best solution.
SNP councillor Stephen Smith added: “It is absolutely not an issue of road versus rail.
“Nobody around this table would seriously argue against a dual carriageway – that would be fantastic. But the truth is it is not going to solve the problems. We would simply get to the Bridge of Don bottleneck quicker.”
Mr Smith argued the introduction of rail would not only connect the Buchan region to the wider Scottish transport network, but would also “connect the rest of the country to us”.
He insisted this could help attract new doctors, nurses and teachers to fill vacant posts.
And fellow SNP member councillor Fiona McRae maintained that reintroducing a train line to Peterhead and Fraserburgh – the two towns furthest from the nation’s rail network – would bring fresh tourism benefits.
The councillors’ comments will now be submitted to the Nestrans board as part of the ongoing work to choose the best option for Aberdeenshire.
