An Ayrshire MSP has reiterated his calls for the full electrification of the rail network in the south of Scotland, as he blasts that the stretch from Girvan to Stranraer “has been ignored”.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has once again called on the Scottish Government to commit to 100 per cent electrification of the rail network in the south of Scotland.
ScotRail recently announced that replacement bus services will operate between Kilmarnock and Glasgow for six weeks from June 24 while work is being carried out on the Barrhead to Glasgow electrification project.
In addition to a replacement bus service operating between Glasgow and Kilmarnock, there will also be reduced services to/from Glasgow to Crossmyloof and Pollokshaws West stations, and trains between Carlisle, Dumfries, and Glasgow will terminate at Kilmarnock for a connecting replacement bus service.
Mr Smyth says that while work will soon be underway to see electrification on the Barrhead to Glasgow stretch, he has questioned why the Government’s plans for electrification of the railway exclude many parts of the network, including the stretch between Girvan and Stranraer.
Mr Smyth said: “While this work is going to cause local people serious disruption for six weeks, at least this is one part of the rail network which is undergoing electrification.
“I have repeatedly called on the Scottish Government to go further and commit to full electrification in the south of Scotland but ministers have refused.
“It is especially frustrating that the Girvan to Stranraer stretch has been ignored.
“There are genuine fears over what that means for the long-term commitment to routes that have already faced significant cuts in services since the pandemic.
“Surely, we need a long-term commitment to a rolling programme of electrification going up to 2035 and beyond, until we get 100 per cent electrification of the network.
Mr Smyth added that he will “continue to press” for a full electrification of the rail network across the south of Scotland and ensure that his “constituency is not left behind.”
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is committed to decarbonising all of its passenger rail network and freight rail services.
“Our Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan commits to all passenger diesel trains being replaced.
“The order and programme in which that is done will depend on business cases and available budgets. The Plan itself is intended to be dynamic, with regular updates.”
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