Dave Thompson MSP

SKYE, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Dave Thompson has welcomed decisive action by transport minister Keith Brown to secure the future of enhanced cross-border sleeper rail services.

Mr Brown, the SNP Scottish Government Minister for Housing and Transport, is to provide additional funding of at least £50 million to enhance the Caledonian Sleeper service. This will surpass a £50 million offer from the UK Treasury, made on the condition that this sum is matched by the Scottish Government.

Mr Thompson said: "This is wonderful news and shows that the SNP Scottish Government is committed to providing efficient transport links for all parts of Scotland

"This also kills another scaremongering story put about by opposition parties who seem to have little to offer the people of the Highlands other than predictions of disaster and downturn.

"Despite serious Westminster cuts to Holyrood's budget, The Scottish Government is already providing higher levels of funding than ever before to improve Scotland's rail services."

Note:

SG Press Release:

From: Transport Scotland

PRESS RELEASE

21 December 2011

£50million-plus boost for Sleeper Service

The Scottish Government will invest at least £50million to enhance cross-border Caledonian sleeper rail services.

Scottish Ministers have put the funding forward to see the services operate with a number of improvements.

This surpasses the recent offer made by the Treasury of £50milllion for the service, if it could be matched by the Scottish Government.

Minister for Housing and Transport Keith Brown said:

"The Scottish Government provides significant support for the Caledonian sleepers through the existing ScotRail franchise and it was always our intention to ensure a continuing and improving service for passengers beyond 2014.

"I am delighted to now confirm that we have submitted proposals to the Treasury that will see us invest, as a minimum, £50million to ensure that the Caledonian sleepers are enhanced to offer better facilities and a more responsive service to passenger needs.

"This comes on top of our already record levels of investment in Scotland's railways, including the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvements Programme and Borders railway.

"I now await the decision of the Treasury on whether it will stick to its promise and make the funding available to maximise the improvements to the service.

"That ethos of offering the best possible experience for passengers is at the heart of our current Rail2014 consultation, which gives passengers the opportunity to have their say on how our trains operate beyond the current franchise which ends in 2014.

"For this reason, I would urge everyone with an interest in Scotland's railways to participate in the consultation and play their part in shaping the future of our rail services."

Notes to Editors:

Transport Scotland is the Scottish Government's national transport agency responsible for; aviation, bus, freight and taxi policy;  coordinating the National Transport Strategy for Scotland; ferries, ports and harbours; impartial travel services; liaising with regional transport partnerships, including monitoring of funding; local roads policy; major public transport projects; national concessionary travel schemes; rail and trunk road networks; sustainable transport, road safety and accessibility; the Blue Badge Scheme. Transport Scotland is an Executive agency accountable to Scottish Ministers. http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/