Letters to the Editor

WHAT RAIL SERVICES DO YOU WANT?

The Friends of the Far North Line committee would like to urge all users and potential users of the railways to take part in the Scottish Executive's current consultation for their long term rail priorities strategy. This is the most important opportunity in years for the public voice to be heard.

Your views on how to encourage more people to use the train rather than the car, what new services should be provided and where, the level of fares, standards of passenger comfort, and how to increase freight carryings and benefit the environment are all of value.

In the Highlands, you might want quicker services, more frequent services, better integration with buses and ferries, and better connections at Inverness with routes to the south and east. You might feel that the provision of free Scotland-wide bus travel to pensioners, which is to be introduced in April, should be extended to the trains. It is important to let the Executive know.

Your comments should be sent by 28 December to Denise Manzor, Scottish Executive Rail Strategy 2-F (North), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. A consultation document may be obtained from her on 0131 244 0855 or on the internet at www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations.

Rail users keen to see a quicker service from/to Caithness due to the construction of a shorter line through Dornoch may be interested to know that Highland Council have just started to review their local plan for Sutherland. Members of the public may wish to look out for the consultation documents and meetings and make representations on the safeguarding of a route for such a scheme. Details can be had from Alan Ogilvie in the Highland Council Planning Department on 01463 702262 or on the internet at www.highland.go.uk/plintra/devplans/suth.

Yours etc
Roger Piercy
Acting Secretary FoFNL
Findon Mills
Culbokie