MSPs blast “inadequate and short sighted” plans to ditch rail upgrade in East Kilbride

Monica Lennon MSP has joined with local MSP colleagues from across the political divide to call for dualling of the East Kilbride to Busby railway line to be put back on the table after Transport Scotland quietly dropped plans which would have doubled the number of trains using the vital commuter route.

Signed by MSPs from the Scottish Labour, Green and Conservative parties, the open letter reminds Transport Minister Graeme Dey MSP that “agreement to dual and electrify the single-track part of the rail line between East Kilbride and Glasgow has always been a cross-party campaign”.

It highlights that, as the biggest town in Scotland, East Kilbride deserves significantly improved public transport links and requests a joint meeting with the Minister to represent the views of their constituents.

Monica said: “When the Scottish Government’s Michael Matheson visited East Kilbride last year in his capacity as Transport Minister, he observed that the town’s rail services “aren’t up to scratch.”

“How can it be right that while Mr Matheson has been promoted to Cabinet Secretary, East Kilbride’s rail plans have been demoted despite firm commitments to dual and electrify the entire line?

“East Kilbride residents deserve to reap the same rewards of a modern, accessible and green public transport system that many in our major cities already have. Too many people are forced into expensive and polluting cars against their will when faced with substandard services.

“It concerns me that decisions of this magnitude are taken without consultation with local people and community stakeholders.

“After spending years campaigning for improvements, East Kilbride residents celebrated the announcement of track dualling last July. They are now back to square one. People in East Kilbride are fed up with cutbacks and backtracks like this all the time.”