Scots urged to push for new rail link . . in England

SCOTS were today urged to campaign in favour of a controversial high-speed rail line through the heart of England - so it can eventually be extended to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

After talks earlier this week with UK Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, city council leader Jenny Dawe said she hoped individuals and organisations in Edinburgh would take part in the consultation which is about to be launched on the proposed London- Birmingham high-speed line and put the case for bringing it north of the Border.

She said: "It makes a better case for high-speed rail anywhere if you include Scotland in the argument."

Cllr Dawe and Glasgow council leader Gordon Matheson discussed high-speed rail in talks with Mr Hammond at the House of Commons.

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Cllr Dawe said: "Philip Hammond's focus at the moment is on getting the London- Birmingham proposal through. There are a lot of people in England who do not want it. I felt he saw it as quite a daunting task he has ahead.

"We said we could help with that argument because if you look at it from more of a UK perspective, the business case suggests the returns are much greater if you include going further north.

"I would urge people to respond to the consultation. If London-Birmingham falls, we are going nowhere."

She acknowledged high-speed rail was a very long-term project - even the first phase to Birmingham is not expected to be up and running until 2023 - but she said it was vital the case for Scotland was made now.

Cllr Dawe said research suggested the line from London to Birmingham would benefit the economy to the tune of 2 for every 1 invested, but bringing it to Scotland produced a benefit of more than 7 for every 1 invested.

"If we can get journeys down to three hours or below, the figures show you get a huge shift from air to rail, which has big benefits not just for the environment but the economy, too."

She also hopes the Scottish Government will agree to fund an 8 million feasibility study to identify possible routes for the line north of the Border.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, who arranged the meeting with Mr Hammond, said: "All sides share a determination to work together and move this project forward."

A spokesman for Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "Successive reports show that the economic case for high-speed rail in the UK is significantly stronger when it includes Scotland.

"We are committed to working with the UK Government and others to ensure Scotland's inclusion including the consideration of a detailed Scottish plan."