Sleeper service cuts plan 'barmy' says Dornoch campaigner
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PROPOSED cuts to the Caledonian Sleeper service have been branded as “barmy” by a local rail campaigner.
Dornoch Rail Link Action Group convener Mark Norton has blasted proposals by Transport Scotland to remove all sleeper train services from the Highlands to London, and said the move would damage economic growth in the Far North. The Rail 2014 consultation, being co-ordinated on behalf of the Scottish Government by Transport Scotland, has thrown into doubt the future of the Inverness to London link.
It follows the publication of proposals for the new ScotRail franchise in 2014 which includes dropping Caledonian Sleeper services from Aberdeen, Fort William and Inverness.
Barrock-based Mr Norton told the Caithness Courier that the potential loss of the sleeper service in Scotland would have a negative impact on regeneration plans in Caithness and Sutherland.
“Any suggestion to cut the sleeper services is frankly barmy,” he said. “I am aware of the proposed changes to the services which may result in cuts to the Caledonian Sleeper services and this is something which our group would naturally oppose vigorously.
“Sleeper services provide a vital link from the Highlands direct to London as well as in Aberdeen and the central belt. Particularly when you look at the rise in road fuel prices as well as fog which has recently been disrupting flights at London’s airports, it is important that there is an alternative mode of transport.”
Mr Norton claimed that a high number of people who live in the Caithness area use rail services specifically to connect with the sleeper services to London.
“If this service is withdrawn I believe that it will have a knock-on effect on the number of passengers who use rail services in Caithness,” he stated. “This will be detrimental to any attempts that our group are currently engaged in to secure a prosperous and dynamic future post-Dounreay in the next 40 years. Any attempts to make cuts to the services will be resisted as vigorously as possible and I can assure you that DorLAG will do this.”
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart is currently leading a campaign to save the sleeper services in the Highlands.
He believes that members of the public need to make their views on the issue known to help safeguard its future. “This whole review has been created on the back of a fag packet,” he said. “It is important that the public and business sector make their voices heard and write to transport minister Keith Brown to let him know their views. I am working with my team to issue pre-addressed postcards which are available to the public and which urge the minister to rethink this ludicrous suggestion by his team at Transport Scotland.”
The Highland Council’s transport, environmental and community services committee has also agreed to a make a strong representation to the Government about its support to retain the service.
Wick councillor Graeme Smith said at the committee meeting it was important to obtain exact figures of how many people use the service in the Highlands when it presents its argument.
“We’re told it’s the Highland sleeper service that’s under consideration, that does not mean it’s the rail service itself,” he said. “When we talk about it being a vital transport and economic link from the Highlands, I think we have to be able to quantify that and say why the sleeper service is more necessary than to just to simply doze in the seats we are travelling in.”
Meanwhile, The Inverness Courier has started a campaign to save the service. To find out more and to sign its online petition, go to http:
