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Fast rail 'could cut flights from Scotland by a third'

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Published Date: 06 June 2009
By SCOTT MACNAB
HIGH-SPEED rail links can reduce the number of flights from Scotland's main airports by a third, campaigners against airport expansion said yesterday.
Faster trains have reduced flights in many European countries, according to a report by AirportWatch Scotland.

Many flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow are short-haul and can be replaced with fast trains, it said. Of all flights from the two airports, 60 per cent were to mainland UK destinations.

"It is very clear that rail has the potential to cut flights at Scotland's main airports by at least a third, if Europe is anything to go by," report author John Stewart said.

"The vast majority of trips made from Scotland's airports are over short distances where a fast, affordable rail service could be a real alternative."

Mr Stewart also criticised plans to expand both airports.

"All the political parties are now committed to introducing some form of high-speed rail service," he said.

"The sooner it happens, the better. Fewer flights would cut climate-change emissions and reduce the noise for communities under the flight paths."





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 05 June 2009 10:15 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: The railways
 
1

truthsleuth,

06/06/2009 00:38:06
WE must stop wasteful spending on airports. Scotland does not need Edinburgh AND Glasgow.
Both now exist so it would be sensible to share flights between both airports and not duplicate them. This would bring more direct long distance routes into being and with High Speed rail linking them to inland destinations there would be no need to expand either airport.
2

Dave From Barra,

Western Isles 06/06/2009 10:07:50
Hmmm, lets fix the potholes in our roads first, eh?
3

mr broon,

Edinburgh 06/06/2009 10:30:29
It took the failed Rail Track, and its successor company Network Rail, 10 years to upgrade the West Coast Line. It was 7 years late! It is still plagued with delays since the official completion date in January this year!

The State owned French rail company SNCF, which has one of the most efficient rail networks in the world, is now investing a further 4 billion Euros in future upgrades to track, and 200 larger TGV trains which can travel at even greater speeds. (Railway Magazine)

In the past 4 years, SNCF annuals profits have increased, although the French Government is less concerned with making money as long as the rail network is efficient, and competes with internal air services.

SNCF sells its rail technology around the world and has been approached by the US Government for assistance to develop rail networks there.

French commuter and long distance trains are rarely late. (The Times)






4

The Ghost of Sir William Arrol,

The Forthy Bridge 06/06/2009 10:52:00
A fast railway (if built) will replace flights because the global fuel supply that keeps planes in the sky is now in sustained decline. Jatropha beans or other bio-fuels will only sustain a small fraction of the current aviation industry (probably the military part). Edinburgh and Glasgow will eventually loose their airports over the coming decades. (as will all other cities)
5

JT,

06/06/2009 12:14:16
Im visiting friends on the south coast of England in july, £50 return for flightand £20 return on train takes a couple of hours booked when I want to or train from edinburgh to portsmouth £130+ cant book until nearer the time and cant guarentee if get advanced booking. Its a no brainer.
6

Mcsnagpile,

06/06/2009 16:36:31
What a bunch of dummies. A significant number of people fly on short-haul because they cannot fly directly to their international destinations,--- and change at other airports like Amsterdam, London and Frankfurt. Perhaps we could get a high speed tunnel train to Europe and onwards.
The IQ of the World is going down. We are relapsing back to chimps. Come on the Trams.

 

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