Stevenson Calls For Improved Rail Services For North-East Travellers

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has called for improved rail services for the North-east. The SNP MSP made his call in a submission to Network Rail’s consultation on route utilisation.

In his submission, Mr Stevenson urges better connections between rail services arriving in Aberdeen from Inverness, and those services to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“I know that many of my constituents in use their “local” stations at Dyce and Inverurie for their journeys south. I try to do so as often as practical for my journeys to Parliament.

“Unfortunately, I am not sure than many people know that they can now get trains at Dyce which go direct to Glasgow and Edinburgh without the need to change at Aberdeen with a prolonged stop. Not only does this avoid the congestion which invariably accompanies a journey to Aberdeen city centre, but parking is much less of a problem and is also free.

“I have asked Network Rail to look at publicising these services more widely and also urged that services serving other stations north of Dyce be dovetailed with connecting services in Aberdeen, which is often not the case at the present time.

“In addition, I have asked that the possibility of direct access to and from the airport where the station platform abuts onto the airport perimeter for rail travellers by means of a shuttle bus be investigated, as well as more frequent services on the Aberdeen-Inverness line.”