Holyrood elections 2026: Labour pledges new express rail service between Edinburgh and Glasgow
Plan is part of £2 billion investment in faster intercity travel
Labour plans to introduce a new express rail service between Edinburgh and Glasgow if it wins power at Holyrood.
The pledge was announced by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar as he prepared to launch the party’s manifesto for the May elections at an event in the Capital today.
The new service, with a fastest journey time of 45 minutes, is part of Labour’s plans to drive growth and improve connectivity between Scottish cities.
The party said the proposed new service would run on routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central via Shotts, providing additional capacity and greater connectivity between the two cities as well as a more convenient service for passengers.
It said £2 billion would be invested to upgrade rail and deliver a new intercity rail corridor with fast electric trains linking Scotland’s cities, boosting capacity and cutting journey times for commuters and rail freight.
And as part of the project, Labour would work with ScotRail and Network Rail to implement the new express rail service to provide additional services between Edinburgh and Glasgow, encouraging people to use public transport and reduce car traffic.
The line between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Shotts was electrified in 2019. And in 2021 Network Rail noted that future opportunities could see up to two or three trains per hour on the route, with the fastest journey taking a little as 45 minutes.
The party said the upgrades would "connect people, support businesses and help both cities to thrive".
Mr Sarwar said: “The SNP has neglected Scotland’s rail network for too long and failed to deliver the reliable links across our cities.
“More convenient and speedy links between Glasgow and Edinburgh will connect people, support businesses and help both of these cities thrive.
“That's why Scottish Labour will deliver a new express service between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central to build on the existing services.
“We will make trains as affordable and accessible as possible – easing congestion on the motorways, supporting local economies and saving workers time.
"This will be good for the commuters able to get to work more easily, the friends and families better connected, and the businesses able to attract more custom.
“Scottish Labour is ready to deliver a better future for Edinburgh and a better rail network for Scotland. On May 7 only Scottish Labour can end the SNP’s broken status quo and deliver the change our community needs.”