NETWORK RAIL POSITIVE AS PARLIAMENT DEBATES AIRDRIE-BATHGATE BILL
Thursday November 23, 2006
A Bill that proposes the construction of a new £300 million railway line between Airdrie and Bathgate will be debated in Parliament today. Network Rail, Promoter of the Bill, is hopeful that MSPs will support plans to re-open the 15-mile Airdrie-Bathgate passenger rail link after 50 years of closure and to upgrade existing links between Airdrie and Drumgelloch and Bathgate and Newbridge Junction.
In mid-November the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill passed a significant milestone when it was endorsed by the Parliamentary Committee responsible for scrutinising the proposals.
Ron McAulay, Director of Network Rail, Scotland, said: “The Airdrie-Bathgate Bill received positive feedback earlier this month when it was endorsed by the Parliamentary Committee responsible for considering it. In the spirit of our ongoing dialogue with interested parties, we look forward to a healthy debate in Parliament today and welcome politicians’ views. As Promoters of the Bill we are hopeful that MSPs will recognise the benefits of building the new railway and will vote for the Bill to proceed to the next stage.”