Scotland's economic recovery - courtesy of the Public Purse

[campbell]

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Release ... 2/10101843

Discuss?

[Peter]

I won't even pretend to be knowledgeable in Politics and certainly not a fan of the SNP or what they stand for

...however, in an age where the differences in political parties seems to be down to minor detail and where none seem to have the courage or leadership to consider radical (or even strategic) thinking, this seems like a pretty bold statement.. but I'd like to see it go a few steps further.

Cheers, Peter (one glass too many on a wednesday night faction)

[Graemei]

I'd say there is a good chance when it is all done, it wont really work and that it will end up costing double what they first thought.

[BiggestNizzy]

and then muggins here (as I am so young) will get lumbered with the cost

[allyrennie]

The suggestion of using the existing forth bridge for just pubic transport ( yes twas deliberate... ) is just nuts. All they are going to do is shift the current bottleneck!!!

The new link road to the A8000 is nothing short of a shambles, the whole bridge situation is a f*cking nightmare in fact, I was over in Edinburgh working last week, left the house at 6.45, got to the bridge at 7.20, Shatnav informs me I have only 7 miles to go to get to my destination, how long did It take me? Oh just till 8.50

Sometimes you wonder if these clowns actually take the time to travel in the rush hour on these roads.............

[Tom]

edited to take into account the volume of wine consumed this evening......

as you were....

[campbell]

A great time to digest the detail and post a response Tom, good on you

I do truly wonder how the Scottish Government expects the Fife and to lesser degree North East economies to survive and prosper when they are only now trying to organise improvement to the infamous Forth crossing.

Perhaps if they focused some of the money from the Edin-Glasgow rail link "upgrade" on a high standard Fife-Edin rail service instead (complete with new crossing etc if required), the pressure on the road bridge would genuinely drop.

[mac]

A great time to digest the detail and post a response Tom, good on you

I do truly wonder how the Scottish Government expects the Fife and to lesser degree North East economies to survive and prosper when they are only now trying to organise improvement to the infamous Forth crossing.

Perhaps if they focused some of the money from the Edin-Glasgow rail link "upgrade" on a high standard Fife-Edin rail service instead (complete with new crossing etc if required), the pressure on the road bridge would genuinely drop.

They have upgraded most of the track on the fife circle in the past 5 - 10years. I spent most of my time learning my trade on the circle (maybe that's the problem) They do seem to be keen on spending money in the rail sector what with GARL (Glasgow Airport Rail Link), the project I'm currently working on, bringing a two track service to the nice folk of Dunlop & Stewarton (who don't want it), the waverley project down to the borders, the Airdie - Bathgate line which will give another link between Glasgow & Edinburgh and also the plans for a very high speed rail link between Glasgow & Edinburgh by upgrading the existing Polmont/Linlithgow route.

Personally - I think they have their transport spending going in the right direction

[pete]

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Release ... 2/10101843

Discuss?

Keynes is alive and well?

[j2 lot]

How times have changed - I think it is doubtful that much of this would have been proposed if it had not been for the economic downturn.
The building of the M74 extension would not have got approval if the 2014 games bid had failed as there was a political push to ditch it. But as it was a conditon of getting the Games that the transport infastructure in the West was improved so the extension got the go ahead

[campbell]

and also the plans for a very high speed rail link between Glasgow & Edinburgh by upgrading the existing Polmont/Linlithgow route.

I wonder if they have asked any of the customer base about this.

I've been a regular (until very recently, at least) and I'm not aware of any consultations asking

"would you rather the Glasgow - Edin line was
a) faster
b) more reliable
c) had more chance of you getting a seat
d) was better value for money?"

I would answer b) c) and d) without hesitation. I'd suggest they shove a) where the sun don't shine.

The train already outruns the car city centre to city centre, so what does shaving a mere 15-20 mins from the time really mean to anyone?

I accept that an hour or so off the Glasgow or Edin to London journey is a worthwhile goal to tempt people out of aeroplanes but there's hardly any comparison for this 45 mile, 55 minute local inter-city route?!

On the other hand I'm glad I am no longer a regular because being asked to cough up a further 6% this January is a bloody insult. It will cost £8.05 for an allegedly 22 min journey. On trains that rarely leave Linlithgow on time and almost certainly never reach Waverley on time. And on peak services, generally without the privilege of a seat. OK you can get around 10% off buying a flexipass multijourney ticket but we are still talking £7.30 a go.

Whatever happened to that "National Conversation"? Who are the Government talking to? Themselves?

[j2 lot]

Have to agree with you Campbell, what is the point in a fast service that is always late??!!

I very rarely travel any other way than by car, it is 15 -20 mins drive to any of the 3 train stations I could use, there are no bus services which take you to said stations,and on the few occasions I have got a lift to the station to get a train at a specific time, it has been late or cancelled, so I then have to wait for up to 40 minutes on a platform which is almost open air- ergo cold wet and windy.
Ironically I live a street away from Station road and Station Yard - however the station closed in 1961 !!

I welcome anything which will take people off the roads though as then they will be clearer for me to drive on

[greyrigg]

Unfortunately all that is going to happen is a further collapse in the £.

Pouring newly printed money into uncompetitive state infrastructure projects will give a short term feelgood, or rather, not so bad factor for a while but without a growth in the private, manufacturing, exporting sector we ar f**c*d

The government can't employ everyone and when everyone is on the dole the rush hour will be a bit quieter anyway.............

Malcolm

[pete]

Unfortunately all that is going to happen is a further collapse in the £.

Pouring newly printed money into uncompetitive state infrastructure projects will give a short term feelgood, or rather, not so bad factor for a while but without a growth in the private, manufacturing, exporting sector we ar f**c*d

The government can't employ everyone and when everyone is on the dole the rush hour will be a bit quieter anyway.............

Malcolm

A pedant writes.

A collapse in the pound would boost the exporting sector

Probably.

[woody]

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Release ... 2/10101843

Discuss?

Keynes is alive and well?

And living in SW1A 2AB