The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association has hit out against proposals to build a high-speed rail network to Scotland at its first lobbying meeting in the Houses of Parliament.
SPAA spokesman Sandy MacPherson said the dinner on January 26 was attended by four SPAA delegates, 10 Scottish MPs and a further four British Airways delegates with conversation largely dominated by the recent decision to grant Heathrow’s third runway.
Although the association supports the additional choice the rail link will offer, MacPherson added members are becoming increasingly alarmed it will be used as an excuse to further cut flights between London and Scotland.
He said: “Consumers should have the choice to travel by rail and it might just work for business men based in central Scotland but not further away.
“A high-speed network is never going to fulfill the needs of those businessmen further afield and it is also going to take 25 years to build it.”
MacPherson added the SPAA also expressed concern that should the new runway be built at Heathrow, routes to Scotland will still be maintained.
He was also planning on meeting the shadow secretary of state for transport Theresa Villiers on 4 February adding: “It’s a case of onwards and upwards with Brussels next maybe.”