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THE Inverness Courier is stepping up its campaign to save direct train services between Inverness and London by launching an on-line petition to be handed to Scottish ministers.
Both the Highland Chieftain, which provides a daily daytime service, and the overnight Highland Sleeper face an uncertain future under a review of Scotland’s rail services.
A consultation document published by the national transport agency, Transport Scotland, suggests passengers on cross-border trains could change at Edinburgh. But the idea has horrified senior business and tourism officials, along with politicians of all parties, who are backing our Save Our Trains campaign.
Inverness guest house owner Richard Paxton yesterday warned that severing direct rail links with London would impact seriously on the area’s tourism industry.
"It will just strangle our livelihood if tourists cannot get to the north of Scotland," said Mr Paxton, who runs the Westbourne in Huntly Street.
"If they can only get to Glasgow or Edinburgh, people will stay there. To say I am alarmed is an understatement."
Angus Noble, chairman of the 23-strong Inverness Bed and Breakfast Association, pointed out people are being encouraged to use trains and buses to cut back on car travel. He fears terminating through services in the central belt would lead to more people hiring cars to continue north — possibly resulting in less time being spent in the Highlands and further adding to the congestion on the A9.
"The suggestion of maybe scrapping the direct rail links is unbelievable and people in Inverness and the Highlands should respond to the consultation leaving the Scottish government in no doubt that those rail links must not only be retained but improved," he said.
Politicians have also condemned the unexpected new threat to the Chieftain and Highland sleeper services.
Writing in The Inverness Courier today, Inverness MP Danny Alexander accuses the SNP government of taking "a nationalist insular view of our railways".
"Whilst the SNP might be happy for Scotrail to be the only rail operator delivering services throughout Scotland, businesses rely on connections across the UK," he states. "I am grateful to The Inverness Courier for starting its campaign on this issue and hopefully together we will ensure that this idea is rightly abandoned."
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon is amazed that axing the Highland Chieftain is even being considered as an option.
"My concern is that if the Highland Chieftain was cut, it would be unlikely ever to come back," she said.
Highland Council is also expected to make robust representations to the Scottish government, with transport chairman John Laing describing the idea of forcing passengers to change at Edinburgh Waverley for services into England as unacceptable. "As far as I am concerned the sleeper and the Highland Chieftain are vital services and we can ill afford to lose them," he said.
* Sign the Save Our Trains petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-our-trains/
Why are our train services under threat again? Buy today’s Inverness Courier to find out.
