Do you want to see passenger and freight railway services from Dyce to Peterhead and Fraserburgh via Ellon and other Aberdeenshire towns reopened? Here’s your chance to find out more and have your say.
Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive of AGCC said: “If we want to see our region’s economy firing on all cylinders, we need better transport links to major centres of industry and commerce such as Peterhead and Fraserburgh, joining up settlements of significant size and population along the way.
“The success of the reinstating the Borders railway and now the Levenmouth project in Fife shows what can be achieved with credible plans, a good business case and public support backed by local business communities. This is not pie in the sky.
“Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) is proud to share the vision for reconnecting Buchan to the UK-wide rail network, with the huge potential that brings for shifting freight, for commuters travelling across our region and for attracting more visitors to explore this fantastic corner of Scotland.
“But this isn’t an argument for rail over better and safer roads in the area, we should have the ambition to aim for both. Other regions of Scotland are seeing multi billions of pounds committed to their public transport systems. This can be achieved at a fraction of that amount.
“The work is gathering momentum but, with public funding more challenging than ever, we need to strongly demonstrate the support of the people and businesses in the North-east if our case is to be heard in the Central Belt corridors of power”.
AGCC and Campaign for North East Rail are now engaged in the Buchan Sustainable Transport Study. The study was awarded grant funding from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund to undertake an appraisal of the strategic transport corridor between Dyce, Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh. This study will focus primarily on longer term interventions including passenger and freight rail links.
A drop-in session for interested businesses and members of the public is planned on Tuesday 23rd January 2024 from 12.30-19.30 at the Palace Hotel Peterhead. Anyone who’d like to find out more or share their views can drop-in at a time which is convenient for them during the day. Information will be made available on display boards and members of the client and project teams will be on hand to discuss key issues and the projects more generally.
While the event is a drop-in format, at 1.00pm and 6.30pm there will also be short presentations on progress to date by the project team which you are welcome to attend.
If you wish to attend the event, please email NorthEastAppraisals@stantec.com
with details of your name, organisation (if applicable) and likely time you’ll be attending.
And you can watch the campaign short video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_vv47CK0S4