05/11/2009

Labour challenged over Waverley rail commitment

Midlothian Labour politicians have been challenged to “come clean” over their priorities for rail investment in Scotland after SNP MSP Christine Grahame claimed West of Scotland Labour MSPs were conspiring to divert money away from the Waverley rail project in an effort to resurrect the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL).  The Scottish Government last month announced it would scrap the GARL project but restated its commitment to the Waverley project that will see 4 new stations built at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge,  providing a well needed commuter rail route for the region and bringing with it jobs and investment. Ms Grahame said:

“It is well known that many Labour MSPs and MPs from the West of Scotland are deeply opposed to the reinstatement of the Waverley line, a railway they closed in 1969 under the notorious Beaching cuts. The reinstated Waverley line will improve commuter links to Edinburgh and create jobs and bring new investment to Penicuik and the rest of Midlothian.

“Whilst Labour in the West of Scotland are busy looking at ways to divert cash allocated to the Waverley project towards resurrecting GARL, Rhona Brankin MSP and David Hamilton MP are still claiming they remain supportive of the Waverley project. Labour are looking both ways on this issue and its about time they came clean and explain where in Labour’s national rail priorities the Waverley project sits.

“Rhona Brankin will be well aware that her Labour colleagues in the West of Scotland do not support the Waverley line. Labour need to publicly state that they are committed to the Waverley railway project and would not seek to scrap it to divert funds into the costly GARL project at the expense of jobs and investment in Midlothian.”

SNP It’s time.....