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We, the undersigned
• Support Aberdeen Crossrail
We demand that the Scottish Executive:
• Complete the feasibility study on Aberdeen Crossrail
• Commit to the project through its Transport Strategy
• Announce a timetable for completion for completion of the project
The Case for Aberdeen Crossrail
Aberdeen Crossrail is a project designed to upgrade, improve and extend rail links between Aberdeen and communities both North and South of the city. Aberdeen Crossrail is an innovative and ambitious part of the strategy to cut congestion in the centre of Aberdeen, an issue that most north east residents would agree needs to be urgently addressed.
Completing Aberdeen Crossrail will see a regular half-hourly service train service between Aberdeen and Inverurie, new services between Aberdeen and Stonehaven and Inverurie and Stonehaven and the prospect of new stations opening in both Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Train services to and from Dyce, the station nearest to Aberdeen airport will also be improved, while the 2003 Scottish Strategic Rail Study (SSRS) does not rule out the possibility of expanding the Crossrail network to include Peterhead and Banchory.
Currently only 12% of North East residents live within 1km of a train station and the services currently in operation are often infrequent and not a viable means of commuting to and from Aberdeen. Expanding existing train services, reducing journey times and opening new services and stations will be essential of the expanding communities in the region are to fully integrated into with the rail network. The 2003 SSRS study estimates that fully 25% of significant new development sin the North East could be situated less than ten minutes from a railway station.
Regular train services aimed at commuters have been successful in attracting passengers and reducing car use between Edinburgh and Glasgow in the central belt. Aberdeen Crossrail will offer people across the North East a viable, sustainable and reliable alternative to their cars. The 2003 SRSS report estimates that journey times within the Crossrail network could be cut by up to 10%.
Improving passenger numbers will lower the cost of travelling by rail and will start to fundamentally increase the use of public transport in North East Scotland. Part of the Crossrail project would be to locate park and ride facilities, bus stops and access for cyclists and walkers beside each station, new or existing.
Reliable, affordable public transport will encourage people from outside Aberdeen to visit the city for shopping and recreation. Similarly, improved services between Aberdeen and the rest of Aberdeenshire will provide a boost to the economies of Inverurie, Stonehaven and other communities. Crossrail is a project for the whole North East.
In June 2005, the Scottish Executive announced £400,000 in funding for a feasibility study into Aberdeen Crossrail. This study is currently ongoing and is not estimated to be completed until March 2007. However, Aberdeen Crossrail is a project which offers significant economic, environmental and social benefits to the whole of North East Scotland. The success of the region depends on building a transport infrastructure for the 21st century, one which will reduce congestion in and around Aberdeen and encourage people from throughout the region to use the rail network.
This petition calls on the Scottish Executive to complete feasibility study into the Aberdeen Crossrail project as soon as is practical, commit to the project through its Transport Strategy and announce a timetable for completion of Aberdeen Crossrail.
The petition will be presented to The Scottish Executive Transport Minister to demonstrate public support for Aberdeen Crossrail. |
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Richard Baker is a Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament representing the North East of Scotland.
Elected in May 2003, the region Richard represents includes the urban centres of Aberdeen and Dundee, as well as the rural constituencies of Banff and Buchan, Gordon, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, and Angus.
Richard's website contains a complete biography plus updates on the issues he is campaign on in both the North East and in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
http://www.richardbakermsp.com... |
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