New high gauge route to Aberdeen by 2007

A significant advance in the drive to move freight off our roads and on to the rail network was announced today (3 October 2005).

Up to 1.3 million tonnes of freight traffic a year will now be able to travel between the central belt and the north east of Scotland thanks to a major funding commitment from the Executive for the gauge enhancement work between Moss end and Elgin.

This project will allow freight trains using larger containers to use the line by lowering the track to increase the clearance between trains and bridges and platforms.

Transport Minister Tavish Scott said:

"This devolved government is helping get freight off our roads. We are committed to a transport system that gets Scotland's business moving, helping grow the economy by ensuring goods and people are connected.

"We want to help businesses deliver their goods and remain competitive, while doing all we can to improve our environment. Larger, modern freight containers will now be able to move by rail between the central belt and north east Scotland, benefiting local economies and removing heavy lorries from our already busy roads."

North East Scotland Rail Freight Development Group (NESRFDG) Chairman, and Aberdeenshire Councillor, Dr Martin Ford said:

"This is a very important development for the North-east which promises to bring both environmental and economic benefits.

"Larger freight containers that cannot currently use the line will, in future, be able to reach Aberdeen and Elgin by train. This is an exciting time for rail freight, with increasing volumes and new traffic, both locally and nationally.

"This project is the result of successful joint working between local authorities in the north east and Moray, rail companies and the Scottish Executive. We look forward to continuing to work with the public and private sectors to promote further growth of rail freight for economic and environmental reasons.

Councillor Kate Dean, Chair of NESTRANS and Leader of Aberdeen City Council said:

"This is excellent news. Transport is crucial to the north east's continuing economic success and gauge enhancement will encourage more goods to go by rail. NESTRANS has supported the work of the North East Scotland Rail Freight Development Group in developing this project, which also forms part of our Modern Transport System strategy".

We are funding an increasing shift of freight from road to rail, using our Rail freight grant scheme. Since August 1997, 24 awards of FFG have been made for Scottish projects representing a total grant award of over £55 million removing 24,779,500 lorry miles from Scottish roads.

Work on developing the case for loading gauge enhancement has been led by the North East Scotland Rail Freight Development Group (NESRFDG) - a partnership between the NESTRANS, HITRANS, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and Moray councils, businesses and the rail industry.

Production of costings and technical specifications for the necessary alterations to the track has been funded by the Scottish Executive and was undertaken in conjunction with the Strategic Rail Authority, in co-operation with Network Rail.

Total capital costs and timescales for delivery cannot be confirmed until March 2006. However costs negotiations are ongoing and are expected to be in the region of 4 million pounds, with a completion date estimated at summer 2007.

3 October 2005