Purvis:Waverly line construction should begin before 2011 elections

12.01.00am GMT Thu 4th Mar 2010

Welcoming the visit by the Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson MSP to his constituency this lunchtime, Liberal Democrat MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Jeremy Purvis has said that the formal activation of the measures in the Waverley Rail Bill is a positive move. The activation is not the construction of the project, which is not due until after November 2011 when the Government aims to have signed a contract with a private sector consortium to build and run the railway.

Jeremy attended a briefing by Transport Scotland officials yesterday evening and is in the Borders today. He has recently taken up issues for constituents on continuing issues concerning the purchase of properties along the line, as well as the redesign of part of the route.

On the basis of evidence from Transport Scotland Jeremy now believes the project can be accelerated.

Commenting, Jeremy Purvis MSP said:

“The visit by the minister today for the photocall is very welcome as he announces the formal commencement of the Railway Act. This means that it needs to be completed in 5 years, but ministers have a power to extend this for a further five years. I am confident however that the date can be brought forward for construction.

“The Scottish Government has put in place a date of signing the contract for the construction of the new £2 billion Forth Crossing in early 2011 and there is no possible explanation why the Borders Railway should be later than that.

“I am calling on the minister to announce today that he is planning to bring forward the signing of the contract for construction of the Borders Railway from November 2011 to March 2011, in line with the new Forth Crossing. This would make it before the next Scottish Parliament elections and removes the project from the uncertainty that the post-election process brings.

“If it can be done for the Forth Crossing it should be done for the Borders Railway.”