YOUR VIEWS: Trains for Highland waste idea and Belladrum traffic
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Readers on the issues that have been exercising them.
Move waste off the road and onto trains
Anyone who has experienced the mud, dust and never-ending single-file working during recent construction of the A9 dualling project from Luncarty to Dunkeld will easily comprehend that complete dualling is going to take many years of similar disruption and, no doubt many of your readers, including me, will never live to see the finished job.
Yes, let’s get started, but with a sense of realism that the dream will contain a few nightmares before the final light of day!
Now, here’s a thing:
According to my information, all of the Highland region non-recyclable waste (up to about 72,000 tones annually, I am told ) will be shipped down the A9 to the Viridor Incinerator just outside Dunbar to be converted into electricity. Hurrah, no more landfilling! But, what does this mean?
Assuming full seven day working from Inverness, my rough guess is that 200 tons will go south every day down the A9, across the Queensferry Bridge and through the Edinburgh Bypass, all returning north upon unloading at Viridor. That’s about six full pantechnicons and six empty , and a lot of added traffic on the A9!
But my research shows that Viridor has a railway siding (did we taxpayers pay for that?) so why could it not be possible to run all of this tonnage between Inverness and Dunbar by rail using flat-bed wagons and standard containers?
These “bin liner “ trains are used elsewhere in the UK so why not in the Highlands?
ScotRail Inverness has all the necessary sidings to accommodate such trains and a small investment in loading facilities is surely not beyond the Scottish Government right now .
The Tesco Container Service has been running successfully for years and I am sure that locomotives and drivers would be available to operate the bin-liner service which would probably be no more than two trains per week and nothing on the overcrowded A9.
Does our government have no imagination? And yet the grumbling about the A9 is incessant!
Aye, and what do professional railwaymen have to say? Surely they must have an interest here? Or is it a repeat of history when we (taxpayers) provided a freight siding at the Norbord factory at Dalcross and (correct me if I am wrong) has been out of use almost ever since it was provided for incoming lumber and outgoing product south onto the A9?
There’s something daft here and yet our glorious local representatives seem to be blind to the opportunities that lie in the better use of our existing rail infrastructure with relatively small expense! Is ScotRail only for passengers?
Oh, and if you want to substantially improve capacity and journey times on the Highland line and at a fraction of the cost of A9 dualling, why not extend the double track from Dalwhinnie to Aviemore?
Flat marginal land, low-level structures, minimal disruption and a huge potential to speed up the Inverness to Perth journey. A double track railway from Aviemore to Blair Atholl would be a boon to Highland travellers and visitors alike.
Plus, and don’t forget, all the additional material, much of which could go on rail, coming up to support the Green Freeport project.
This, surely, is where scarce money should be spent. Our politicos seem to be in the dark here!
Will someone please correct me if I am dreaming? Or do you get my point?
Arthur Millwood
West Heather Road
Inverness
Something must be done about Belladrum traffic
After major delays for many travelling to this year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival on the Black Isle many readers were not slow to share their frustrations while others suggested changes they think might be necessary.
“I left Inverness at 12.30 and dropped family in Belladrum 16.35, 4 1/2 hours later, absolutely ridiculous. Traffic management!! All we saw was police motorcycle driving up and down other side of road and the man at the junction to Belladrum. I’ve taken family a few years and max time had been two hours. Definitely need a rethink for next year.” – E Mackay, Inverness
“They should have let cars into a large car park then worry about tickets, not let cars queue outside on the road. Kids were having to walk down the busy road. I took five hours to drop off my partner and son, it’s a disgrace. I feel sorry for locals posties, workers, not organised at all, just take the money and run, but not the mess.” – Colin Mackay, Inverness
“They’ve made Belladrum too big with the introduction of the Hothouse stage. It was fine when it was just a few bands on the Thursday so a lot of people waited till the Friday but with the line-ups they have on Thursday now they maybe need to start the camping from Wednesday and have single day tickets for all three days.” – Barry Hird, Inverness
Commuter frustrations
There was anger among some Highland commuters after locals heading out of Inverness on one northbound evening train were asked to step back onto the platform to make way for tourists travelling to their cruise ship in Invergordon.
“I suspect most of the local passengers benefit from tourism, so Catch 22. No tourism, no Inverness economy. Suck it up!” – Alan MacKellaich, Peterculter
“On Tuesday 25th we travelled Scotrail Inverness to Edinburgh at 10:50. This train was packed at Inverness with the door exits blocked with luggage. The ticket man was wandering up and down trying to help folks find a seat. There is insufficient luggage storage and in the event of an emergency, we would have to climb over suitcases. Unsafe and unfair for anyone getting on after Inverness.” – Halinka Rands, Drumnadrochit
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