UK NEWS

DIRECT LONDON RAIL LINK COMES UNDER THREAT

The proposed direct line between London and Scotland has been shelved

Sunday November 8,2009

By Sunday Express Reporter

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A DIRECT rail link between Scotland and London is to be scrapped under “secret plans”, it was claimed yesterday.

The service on the nationalised East Coast Main Line between Glasgow and Kings Cross would terminate at Edinburgh from December 2010.

The Department of Transport said it would have to go to public consultation for the changes to take place.

But rail watchdog Passenger Focus said it was concerned and seeking reassurances about the line’s future.

The move prompted an angry reaction from Alex Salmond, especially as Labour has been massively critical of the Scottish Government decision to scrap the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL).

The First Minister said: “This secret plan to slash one of Glasgow’s main connections to London, a connection that is vital for business, for tourism and for employment, is a clear sign Labour continue to take Glasgow and Glasgow voters for granted.”

UK transport minister Lord Adonis last week joined the attack over the cancellation of GARL, which has been at the heart of Labour’s Glasgow North East campaign.

Mr Salmond said: “Labour’s London transport minister has spent two days lecturing the Scottish Government about an unaffordable airport link, when all along his department was set to axe an important service to and from Glasgow.”

The story brought a hurried denial from Labour and claims that it was a “desperate attempt” to revive the SNP campaign.

Lord Adonis said: “This is a blatant and cheap attempt by the SNP to deflect attention from their axing the airport rail link. No proposals to alter services between Glasgow and London have been brought to me.”

Direct services from Glasgow to London Euston will continue, but there would be a particular impact on passengers going to destinations such as Newcastle, York and Doncaster.

James King, Scottish director of Passenger Focus, said: “We have raised concerns about the short timeframe
the industry is allowing for passengers and groups to be consulted about timetable changes on the east coast route.”