Chamber
Plenary, 14 Mar 2007
14 Mar 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill: Final Stage
The extent of my admiration and support for the city of Edinburgh is well known. When I was serving as a member of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee, I heard an early witness for the promoter say that the EARL scheme would make Edinburgh airport Scotland's pre-eminent airport because, as he put it, Glasgow airport is on the wrong side of Glasgow—members can imagine the depth of my emotion.
Taken in isolation, that witness's prediction could come true. Indeed, the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee members received, courtesy of the Minister for Transport, a Department for Transport report based on SPASM—the sketch planning analysis spreadsheet model—which predicted that, if EARL was built but there was no rail access to Glasgow airport, there would be a reduction in the number of passengers using Glasgow airport and an increase in the number of passengers using Edinburgh airport. However, Glasgow airport cannot and will not be left without rail access. That is, no doubt, why Tavish Scott did not burden the committee by submitting the SPASM report as formal evidence.
Members have kindly referred to my railway knowledge. Indeed, I spent 19 years in the railway industry before it was privatised. Perhaps more relevant in this context is my five years' experience as chair of Strathclyde Passenger Transport, during which time I helped to develop the UK's second-largest suburban rail network. I am for railway development as a major part of an integrated transport strategy. Railways are good for the economy, the environment and social inclusion.
Scott Barrie rightly made the point that EARL is not just a rail shuttle between Edinburgh city centre and its airport. It connects Edinburgh to 62 stations throughout Scotland—but, alas, not to stations in Ayrshire and Galloway. Strictly within that comparative context, the Glasgow airport rail link, which was recently approved by the Parliament, is merely—in inverted commas—a rail shuttle between Glasgow city centre and its airport. The on-going success of Glasgow's economy—including its busy airport, which is still the busiest in Scotland—makes unanswerable the case for EARL's west of Scotland equivalent, known as crossrail. Crossrail would link not only Glasgow's airport to the rest of Scotland but Stranraer and Ayrshire to Edinburgh.
There are two paradoxes in Fergus Ewing's opposition to EARL. First, he advocates financial prudence on such a vital national project while his front-bench colleagues write lots of hot cheques for electoral purposes on every other subject under the sun. Secondly, he prefers an alternative strategy in the shape of Network Rail's quietist, unimaginative route utilisation strategy. Network Rail is arguably the least devolved part of the public sector in Scotland, which frankly worries me. Mr Ewing does not see the irony but, then again, he never does.
The Greens astonishingly are opposed to this scheme for a rail link, but I must give credit where it is due to Chris Ballance. After a recent debate on road tolls, he kindly corrected my slight misquoting of Mahatma Gandhi. It was the first time that I had been wrong since 1969 and the first time that he had been right since 2003. Of course, he is wrong again today.
Most of what had to be said has been said, but I hope that, in summing up, the minister will tell us more about the rolling stock that will be required for the scheme. The beast that is required for EARL does not yet exist on wheels anywhere in the UK network. Will he also say more about electrification? Any residual worries that members have about the impact on current timetables could be swept away by an early commitment to an electrification programme, initially, at least, for the central Scotland railway network and the parts of Scotland that will be served by the EARL scheme.
Taken in isolation, that witness's prediction could come true. Indeed, the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee members received, courtesy of the Minister for Transport, a Department for Transport report based on SPASM—the sketch planning analysis spreadsheet model—which predicted that, if EARL was built but there was no rail access to Glasgow airport, there would be a reduction in the number of passengers using Glasgow airport and an increase in the number of passengers using Edinburgh airport. However, Glasgow airport cannot and will not be left without rail access. That is, no doubt, why Tavish Scott did not burden the committee by submitting the SPASM report as formal evidence.
Members have kindly referred to my railway knowledge. Indeed, I spent 19 years in the railway industry before it was privatised. Perhaps more relevant in this context is my five years' experience as chair of Strathclyde Passenger Transport, during which time I helped to develop the UK's second-largest suburban rail network. I am for railway development as a major part of an integrated transport strategy. Railways are good for the economy, the environment and social inclusion.
Scott Barrie rightly made the point that EARL is not just a rail shuttle between Edinburgh city centre and its airport. It connects Edinburgh to 62 stations throughout Scotland—but, alas, not to stations in Ayrshire and Galloway. Strictly within that comparative context, the Glasgow airport rail link, which was recently approved by the Parliament, is merely—in inverted commas—a rail shuttle between Glasgow city centre and its airport. The on-going success of Glasgow's economy—including its busy airport, which is still the busiest in Scotland—makes unanswerable the case for EARL's west of Scotland equivalent, known as crossrail. Crossrail would link not only Glasgow's airport to the rest of Scotland but Stranraer and Ayrshire to Edinburgh.
There are two paradoxes in Fergus Ewing's opposition to EARL. First, he advocates financial prudence on such a vital national project while his front-bench colleagues write lots of hot cheques for electoral purposes on every other subject under the sun. Secondly, he prefers an alternative strategy in the shape of Network Rail's quietist, unimaginative route utilisation strategy. Network Rail is arguably the least devolved part of the public sector in Scotland, which frankly worries me. Mr Ewing does not see the irony but, then again, he never does.
The Greens astonishingly are opposed to this scheme for a rail link, but I must give credit where it is due to Chris Ballance. After a recent debate on road tolls, he kindly corrected my slight misquoting of Mahatma Gandhi. It was the first time that I had been wrong since 1969 and the first time that he had been right since 2003. Of course, he is wrong again today.
Most of what had to be said has been said, but I hope that, in summing up, the minister will tell us more about the rolling stock that will be required for the scheme. The beast that is required for EARL does not yet exist on wheels anywhere in the UK network. Will he also say more about electrification? Any residual worries that members have about the impact on current timetables could be swept away by an early commitment to an electrification programme, initially, at least, for the central Scotland railway network and the parts of Scotland that will be served by the EARL scheme.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5685, in the name of Scott Barrie, that the Parliament agrees that the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill b...
Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab):
Lab
The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill was introduced on 16 March 2006. It seeks powers to provide the promoter, Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd, with stat...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
The member says that the bill will do a lot more than just provide for the building of a rail link to the airport, but has the committee fully considered the...
Scott Barrie:
Lab
The committee examined fully the effect that the proposal might have on services in the central belt and further afield. We put Pauline McNeill's point to Ne...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
In the evidence that he gave on behalf of Network Rail, Ron McAulay said that, if the EARL project is constructed,"that will have an adverse impact and … we ...
Scott Barrie:
Lab
I think that I addressed that point, in part, in the response that I gave to Pauline McNeill. Although some journeys that are diverted via the airport may ta...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
Some concerns remain. The committee has said that there should be a code of construction practice and local construction codes. Will the member give us more ...
Scott Barrie:
Lab
The committee was satisfied by the fact that the requirement for a code of construction practice is incorporated in the bill. We will thus be able to ensure ...
The Minister for Transport (Tavish Scott):
LD
I thank the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee and its convener, Scott Barrie, for their work on the bill. I pay tribute to the committee clerks, the...
Pauline McNeill:
Lab
I put to the minister the same point that I put to Scott Barrie. Before I vote on the bill this evening, I would like an assurance from the minister that he,...
Tavish Scott:
LD
We considered the matter closely and we do not envisage that there will be anything other than a very minimal impact in relation to the Glasgow airport rail ...
Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP):
SNP
As the minister is now expressing confidence about the capacity of the industry to deliver the new rolling stock, can he tell us precisely what the additiona...
Tavish Scott:
LD
I cannot give Mr Adam that answer today, as we have only just entered the rolling stock procurement programme—as I have said repeatedly in written answers to...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
I will set out the SNP's position on EARL—I hope not in an insipid way. We offer a clear alternative to what all the other parties offer on the issue. We do ...
Tavish Scott:
LD
He is making it up.
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
It is the SNP's view—despite the minister's habitual running commentary, which we enjoy during these debates—that the money can be better spent on other proj...
Tavish Scott:
LD
Will the member give way?
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
In a moment.At present, our rail network is running at or near capacity. The SNP's view is that we must invest to increase that capacity. Otherwise, we will ...
Tavish Scott:
LD
Does Mr Ewing believe that Network Rail is wrong to have made the Edinburgh airport rail link part of its route utilisation strategy?
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
We do not believe that EARL is a pivotal part of Network Rail's route utilisation strategy. A more important part of the strategy is to reduce journey times ...
Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
I will finish this point, if I may.We need to effect major improvements to our road network throughout Scotland. Plainly, it is not possible to make all impr...
Tavish Scott:
LD
Yes you have.
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
The minister says, "Yes you have," but the record will show that we have clearly stated that the SNP recognises that long-term objectives must include, for e...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con):
Con
Does the member accept that if Scotland's capital is a great deal less competitive in communications than other European capitals, that will be to Scotland's...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
I accept that point in principle. Indeed, the SNP has developed policies to tackle that very problem. For example, we will provide substantial opportunities ...
Tavish Scott:
LD
I am very glad about that.
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
Does the SNP support EARL? The answer is: no, no and no. Instead, we will invest the money for the good of the whole of Scotland.
David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con):
Con
In the preliminary stage debate on the bill, I said that inadequate information on the project's funding and on alternative and more cost-effective methods o...
Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD):
LD
Does the member accept that the major benefit of the rail link is that it will serve people who travel from elsewhere in Scotland, whereas the proposed traml...