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Friday, July 25, 2008

Integrated Transport

My main concern for the Edinburgh and Lothians is the transport situation and I fully support the Airdrie Bathgate link the opening of the Waverley line to Galashiels with a twin track to Gorebridge with the feasibility to take this further to the Borders on to Newcastleton and Carlisle.

The opening of the railway link to Penicuik, to Peebles Innerlethan Walkerburn and Galashiels. with the appropriate stations and the re-opening of the South suburban line and this could work in conjunction with the Fife circular line for example a figure of eight for passenger trains. Stations should also be opened at Abbeyhill Gorgie and Portobello with a rail link to Edinburgh airport. A passenger ferry service to Burntisland to Granton, (the road distance is 19.9 miles) Kirkcaldy to Portobello (distance being 32 miles) and a ferry ticket which covers all modes of transport within Edinburgh. A car ferry from Dunbar/Anstruther (distance being 94 miles). These measures with an integrated public transport system would alleviate congestion the environment and stress in which people suffer from traffic jams etc.

A metro rail-tram connection from Granton to Haymarket or the viability of a line Granton Trinity Abbeyhill instead of the disruption that tram lines are going to cause to the people from Leith Princess Street Roseburn and the Gyle etc.

There should be more investment in the Scottish train system with electrification of the east coast line to Aberdeen, with the same improvements on the line to Glasgow Queen Street with the opening of the cross Glasgow rail link with dual tracking on more of the line between Perth and Inverness. These measures taken in conjunction with trains running up to an hour and a half later between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street and trains from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh about one hour later than they are just now. This will help to increase business and tourism.

There should be a Southeast passenger transport authority to co-ordinate low fares accessible integrated transport system for Edinburgh East Lothian Midlothian West Lothian Fife and the Scottish borders covering buses metro rail trains and ferries. Edinburgh has a very good bus system which can be diverted if there are hold-ups if there are problems on the road unlike trams. Unfortunately when Lothian regional transport review their programme of routes there is always people who lose out on the 18 / 32 route and the 11 / 31 and this has happened around Edinburgh as well.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

European Ferry Service

Concern over the future of ferry services, the economy and the environment

I see no reason why this service cannot be carried on, as Scotland wants to be in the mainstream of Europe with the economy expanding. It would help the industry and tourism of both nations if this was kept going.

The ferry takes up to 120 cars, up to 100 trucks, and up to 1000 passengers - and it is not a daily service - it only runs every two / three days.

Keeping this service going means that tourists and freight don't have to travel down to Hull to travel to Zebrugge, and this helps make Rosyth a alternative gateway to Scotland.

With the cost of fuel and the damage that is being done to the environment, I feel strongly that we should look at the viability of a car ferry from Dunbar to Anstruther in Fife as it's 94 miles round the coast road. I believe it's 7 or 8 miles across the Forth. This would require work on the Harbours at the two sites, but this would help the economy and save on congestion heading towards the Forth Road Bridge. This would also help tourism in Fife and the Scottish borders, and save on transportation times between Aberdeen and Newcastle.

Although this would require a substanstial financial investment, the benefits over the years would repay itself. Take for example the Greenock to Dunoon route, which supports four ferries because the land route alternative takes so long. This obviously works on the West Coast, so why not utilise it on the East Coast?

I fully support the reintroduction of the hovercraft ferry between Portobello and Kirkcaldy as it is 32 miles around the road, and this would save on congestion and pollution. With a bus service linking the hovercraft to the centres of the city and town, it would effectively create a park and ride for Kirkcaldy.

Edinburgh Council is always saying that they want to encourage regeneration in the city centre of shops and businesses without the extra traffic. The above measure would help take Edinburgh into the 21st century.