This issue's Headcode was written on the morning of 20 January. In the afternoon, following a ministerial announcement, the draft document itself was published. We were also sent a 'STPR2 Consultation Poster 2022' which contained the revealing words, "The final STPR2 Report...will be the evidence base for future spending decisions on strategic transport investment by Scottish Ministers up to 2042 and inform the development of future transport investment delivery plans."

The evidence base. The stack of 'evidence' is truly massive with every conceivable statistic relevant to Scottish transport. However, in terms of plans for rail in the Highlands the document itself contains only the following - no plans, no specifics, just a suggestion that in each category enhancements would be a good idea.

Specifically, for H&I Region:

• Far North Line Capacity Improvements (South of Invergordon)

Provision of enhancements on the Inter-7-Cities strategic rail network seeking to improve connectivity by reducing rail journey times on these corridors. Specifically, for H&I Region:

• Perth-Inverness and Aberdeen-Inverness rail corridor enhancements

Specifically, for H&I Region:

Central Belt - Inverness via Fife

• Increased train length, improved route availability (axle weight), better freight schedules and clearance for taller and wider wagons

Highland Main Line improvements

• Increased train length, improved route availability (axle weight), better freight schedules and clearance for taller and wider wagons, more passing places or "dynamic loops" to improve flexibility of service

• Improving the modal shift of freight from road to rail primarily for trunk haul movements (but not exclusively) through a network of rail freight terminals and facilities to include direct connections to manufacturing facilities and warehousing

Specifically, for H&I Region:

• Potential locations for further consideration could include Morayhill, Georgemas, and Altnabreac (Line Side) timber

There was also a sentence about decarbonisation (i.e. electrification):

STPR2 recommends the priorities for decarbonising key rail routes should align with the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan and focus where appropriate on routes with the most potential to switch traffic from road to rail.

FoFNL now has a consultation form to fill in...