Edinburgh needs rail investment to capitalise on existing success
Rob Falcon leads the campaign for the tram train proposal for the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway. But he’s also an important commentator on transport generally and recently highlighted the need for investment in Edinburgh’s rail infrastructure.
If we want a successful, accessible and sustainable capital, we must give rail the attention it deserves.
As I’ve said in my main article today, Lothian Buses is one of Edinburgh’s great strengths, connecting communities and making public transport a practical everyday choice. But buses cannot carry the whole burden of a successful city region. Rail investment must complement the excellence of our bus network, providing the capacity and connections needed for journeys into Edinburgh from the wider city region from Fife to the Borders.
The central point in Rob’s argument is compelling: investment in trains and ambitions for new stations will achieve less than they should if access to Edinburgh by rail remains constrained. We need to address the infrastructure that determines how many services can run, how reliably they operate and how attractive they are to passengers.
The prize should be an integrated network in which buses, trains and trams work together, with convenient interchanges and coordinated services and ticketing. Each part of the system should strengthen the others.
There is also an economic imperative. Edinburgh’s success depends on people being able to reach the city without spending increasing amounts of time in traffic. Better regional rail connections would widen opportunity while relieving pressure on roads and bus services.
Growing intercity traffic takes up capacity to grow train transport around the city. The service from North Berwick is just hourly during the week, and other constraints such as junction capacity at Portobello limits trains crossing the junction to just 15mph. Government and the rail industry should set out a programme for overcoming capacity constraints, with priorities, funding and delivery timescales.
Edinburgh has demonstrated what excellent bus services can contribute to city life. We should have the same ambition for rail. A successful capital and its surrounding communities deserve a transport network planned for their future, powered by sustained investment and improvement.