Direct Inverness-London train services face new threat

DIRECT train services between Inverness and London are facing a new threat, this time from a Scottish government review of the country’s rail services.

Exactly one year after The Inverness Courier won a major campaign to save the Highland Chieftain, the future of the daily service — along with the direct sleeper between the Highland and UK capitals — is in doubt.

The possible loss of both through services, seen as key to the region’s economy, has emerged in a consultation document on the future of Scotland’s rail services after 2014.

Suggestions that passengers using cross-border services might instead be forced to change trains in Edinburgh has provoked condemnation and surprise, given that the Westminster government has already pledged to retain the Highland Chieftain with new generation trains.

Alarmed business and tourism leaders, rail users and politicians from the region are now urging the Scottish government to safeguard direct rail links to the Highlands.

The Inverness Courier is also reviving its campaign to save the Chieftain along with the sleeper service.

In a swipe at the SNP government, Lib-Dem Inverness MP and chief secretary to the treasury, Danny Alexander, said an insular view of the railways must not dictate that cross-border services terminate in the central belt.

"While the SNP might be happy for everything to start and stop in Edinburgh, businesses rely on connections across the UK," he said.

"I will fight tooth and nail to stop the Scottish government scrapping the Highland sleeper. This is narrow nationalism at its very worst."

David Stewart, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, is astounded at what he describes as "off-the-wall suggestions in an urban-based consultation document" compiled by the national transport agency, Transport Scotland,

"I am appalled by this back-of-a-fag-packet analysis of the future of ScotRail services," declared Mr Stewart, who urged people to write to Scottish transport minister Keith Brown.

"It is important that people make their voices heard and make it very clear this is completely and utterly unacceptable."

But Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, does not believe the Highland services are under threat. "Part of the consultation is to improve the services and I think people are over-reacting and mischief-making," maintained Mr Thompson, who insisted the aim of the consultation was to float different ideas.

"The rail link is absolutely essential in the north. Everyone who has an interest in it should respond to the consultation."

The Scottish Council for Development and Industry, which supported the Save The Chieftain campaign, is disappointed at the latest suggestion to cut direct rail links.

"It is important at a time we are seeking to attract visitors and investment into the Highland economy, we do not send a signal to the rest of the UK that it is harder to travel to Inverness," said Gareth Williams, the SCDI’s head of policy.

Stewart Nicol, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, is urging everyone in the Highlands to make their voices heard. "No one else is going to argue the case for us," he warned. "We have to do it."

The consultation runs until 20th February, with the conclusions due to be published later in 2012.