High Speed Rail offers real benefits to Edinburgh - Crockart

9 June 2010

Edinburgh West MP Mike Crockart has today spoken in a debate on the benefits of finally bringing a High Speed Rail network to the UK.

The debate, initiated by fellow Edinburgh MP Mark Lazarowicz , asked the Government to give a firm commitment to the construction of a High Speed Rail network and to give more information on Government plans.

In the debate Mr. Crockart discussed the environmental need for a link to Edinburgh with the need to make a significant shift away from flights to the train on an air route which is one of Europe's busiest.

Mike said: "A realistic time frame of two and a half hours between Edinburgh and London will make a significant shift away from flights between the two cities.

A similar rail line between Madrid and Barcelona saw more than 50% of passengers switch from the airplane to the train in the first year and this would equate to more than 700,000 fewer people flying between Heathrow and Edinburgh Airport."

Speaking after the debate, Mike said: "High Speed Rail offers real benefits to people in Edinburgh and across the UK, both from an environmental and economic standpont.

I was very pleased to be able to get a chance to speak in the debate called by Mr. Lazarowicz and all Edinburgh MPs should be working together to ensure that any network will include the city in its plans."