Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-04165, in the name of Elaine Murray, on rail.14:40

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab

The Scottish Government often repeats its assertion that it must hold the independence referendum in the second half of this parliamentary session because it...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

The member mentioned steam. I am just old enough to remember steam on the railways. I also remember when the low level at Glasgow Queen Street station was el...

Elaine Murray Lab

It is not quite the fantastic news that we were promised in the SNP manifesto, is it?In the press release from Transport Scotland, the minister was quoted as...

Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way? Interruption.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order.

Jamie Hepburn SNP

My constituents in Cumbernauld are absolutely delighted to see that the line to their town will be electrified.The member suggests that it is impossible for ...

Elaine Murray Lab

The rails will still continue to exist, but why would the UK Government invest in a rail service that benefits another country?According to a written answer ...

The Minister for Transport and Veterans (Keith Brown) SNP

The member seems to have neglected two particular statements that have been made. The leader of Glasgow City Council said:“this announcement is good news for...

Elaine Murray Lab

I checked with my council colleagues, who provided statements, but nobody had shown them the entire press release or explained to them that half of the proje...

The Minister for Transport and Veterans (Keith Brown) SNP

Since the funding of rail was devolved to the Scottish ministers in 2006, there has been major investment in the rail network and its services. The Governmen...

Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Keith Brown SNP

No, not just now. In that statement to the chamber, I committed to continuing the delivery of EGIP and ensuring that it and other network improvements are co...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Will the member give way on that point?

Keith Brown SNP

Earlier this year, Network Rail began advanced route-clearance works and the redevelopment of Haymarket station in readiness for increased passenger numbers ...

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister take an intervention, or will he just keep talking?

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order.

Keith Brown SNP

In December 2012, new Edinburgh to Glasgow via Carstairs services will be introduced. Delivered a year earlier than expected, the new services respond to loc...

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab) Lab

Will the member give way?

Keith Brown SNP

I will give way to Patricia Ferguson, but perhaps she could say where the £350 million that the Labour Party says that it intends to reinstate would come from.

Patricia Ferguson Lab

The minister knows of my long-standing interest in this project. I recently had occasion to write to Network Rail about its consultation process on EGIP. It ...

Keith Brown SNP

There was no answer to the question about where the £350 million would come from. I note the member’s previous intervention in relation to this—Interruption.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order.

Keith Brown SNP

Her previous contribution was to propagate scare stories about Glasgow station closures that never happened.On the point about the EGIP timetable—

Drew Smith Lab

Will the minister take an intervention on that point?

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

The minister has made it clear that he is not taking an intervention at the moment.

Keith Brown SNP

On the point that I have just mentioned, we have already started progress towards EGIP and will continue that progress according to the previous timetable of...

Patricia Ferguson Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Keith Brown SNP

No. I have taken one from the member already.The Jacobs review identified a new opportunity to deliver increased capacity by lengthening platforms as part of...

Neil Findlay Lab

In the past few days, I have been contacted by a large number of constituents from Winchburgh who are concerned that the new project there, which is to creat...