Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson yesterday urged the Scottish Government to deliver rail improvements for Cove and Altens, warning the city cannot afford another “decade of dither”.
The Tory MP was speaking after Transport Secretary Michael Matheson assured him an “appraisal” is forthcoming for new stations in the areas.
Mr Thomson welcomed the £80,000 for Nestrans – the transport partnership for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire – to examine the city’s connectivity.
But he attacked the SNP administration’s rail record and the 11-year wait for £200 million worth of improvements between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
He warned that another decade-plus wait for new halts would be “unacceptable”.
Mr Thomson said: “Since 2008, the SNP have promised 20-minute journey time reductions on the railway between Aberdeen and Edinburgh that have never materialised.
“With the south of Aberdeen continuing to grow, we cannot afford another decade of dither.
“We need to drive this forward to future-proof the city. Not in 10 years, not in another session of the Scottish Parliament, but now.”
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said the £80,000 Nestrans money would consider “new stations south of Aberdeen, including Cove and Altens”.
The spokeswoman added: “Our investment in rail is already delivering more services, faster journeys and infrastructure enhancements.
“Ministers have been consistent and specific in their view that the £200m, over and above the City Deal funding, must only be used to aid journey time and capacity improvements between Aberdeen and the Central Belt.”