The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association has vowed to launch the ‘strongest possible protest’ against government plans to withdraw direct rail links between London and Aberdeen.
The association has written to the Department for Transport, after plans to withdraw the services were revealed in Sir Andrew Foster’s recent report ‘Review of the Intercity Express Programme’.
The SPAA said the withdrawal of the current direct diesel train service, in favour of connecting services via Glasgow and Edinburgh, would inevitably significantly increase overall journey times.
Association vice-president Kevin Thom said the move was “entirely inconsistent” with the coalition government’s stated aim of accelerating development of regional rail services, in a bid to reduce UK domestic air travel.
Thom added the proposal “will seriously undermine support for rail travel amongst both leisure and business travellers in the north of Scotland, many of whom already face lengthy connecting journeys to and from Aberdeen and Inverness”.
“Having to begin or complete their journey on trains which do not provide popular Intercity amenities such as Wifi access, power points and comprehensive catering, will further erode support for long-haul rail travel. They will simply take to the air.”
The SPAA has written to the secretary of state for Transport Phillip Hammond MP, stating its concerns and asking for an urgent response.
“We are seeking the Secretary of State’s assurance,” said Thom, “that there will be genuine and extensive consultation before any such erosion of vital direct rail services takes place.
“We are also suggesting that, far from undermining the existing long-haul rail network in the UK, the government should be contributing to the electrification of the lines between central Scotland and the North.
“That would be real evidence of ‘joined-up’ thinking on the future for rail and air transport in and around the UK.”