Network Rail boss Mark Carne challenged business leaders to push the business case for more investment in rail transport infrastructure in the north.
Mr Carne, who joined Network Rail 11 months ago after a 30 year career in the oil and gas industry, said the planned £170million investment in the Aberdeen to Inverness line would now be starting this year and would be completed in 2019.
Speaking to an audience of around 300 business people at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry’s (SCDI’s) annual lecture last night, he confirmed that the work, which will see the service go hourly and add stations at Dalcross and Kintore, will shave 20 minutes off the journey.
In 2008, the Scottish Government said the slow travel and irregular timetable meant the line “does not offer an attractive alternative to road travel”.
When asked why the improvements in the north have come much later than other major rail improvements in Scotland, Mr Carne said priority was placed on investments that “create the largest economic and social benefit and benefit the largest number of people”.
He said: “We don’t have a bottomless budget. We have to fight for the money that is invested in the railway. It is not unreasonable that the money invested in the railway goes in places that will create the largest economic and social benefit and benefit the largest number of people.”
Mr Carne, a former Executive Vice-President for oil giant Shell and who lived in Aberdeen for a number of years, added: “We don’t understand fully what he benefits will be for local businesses. Having strong representation from businesses and trade bodies that articulate clearly what those benefits could be – then we build them into a business case and that might generate great opportunities.
“It is a little bit of challenge. We need your help in order to build the economic cases that support the kinds of investments you’d like to see.”
Key investments made by the group during the last year included the opening of the new £25million Haymarket station in Edinburgh, the completion of the £80million electrification of the Glasgow-Cumbernauld line, and the £5million renewal of Shore Road bridge in Stirling.
Meanwhile the £350million Borders railway will be complete this year.
Chair of SCDI’s North East Committee, Colin Parker, said: “We are delighted that Mark Carne is presenting this year’s Annual Lecture, an excellent way to start 2015, the 50th anniversary of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry’s presence in both Aberdeen and Inverness.”
