South Sub derailed 'by lack of support'

A LACK of political will has been blamed for the demise of plans to reopen Edinburgh's south- suburban rail line.

A report into bringing back train services in some city suburbs for the first time in nearly 50 years published this week effectively ruled the project out, despite widespread public support.

The report, by consultants Halcrow, claimed the traditional orbital South Sub route was not viable and concluded that a £38m route from Newcraighall to Edinburgh Park was best, but would require a public subsidy of £1.8m a year.

But E-Rail – a private company formed to fight for the reopening of the South Sub – today said the project's biggest stumbling block was finding politicians to drive the project forward.

City leaders today said that even with millions of pounds of private backing already secured by E-Rail, the business case for the South Sub is just not strong enough.

Andrew Robb, general manager of E-Rail, said: "The South Sub's estimated costs – less the £5m or more from developers' contributions – are still a drop in the ocean of the £2.5 billion the Government will spend on transport over the next two years alone. It is clearly political will, rather than hard cash, that is lacking. This is not the end of the line for the South Sub."

A feasibility study published in 2006 recommended a reinstated South Sub passenger service, with trains travelling from Waverley to Haymarket, then via stations at Gorgie, Craiglockhart, Morningside, Blackford or Newington, Cameron Toll, Craigmillar and Niddrie or Kinnaird Park. It suggested the line could attract 7100 passengers per day.

But the Halcrow report claims that existing expansion plans for services into Waverley and Haymarket, combined with growing passenger numbers, means the South Sub scheme would have difficulty finding space for stops at both city-centre stations.

Former City Council transport leader Lawrence Marshall, who is chairman of the Capital Rail Action Group, said: "There is a huge amount of political support for this project, but there is a clear lack of political will to drive it forward, which I think is down to the influence of officials."

Councillor Phil Wheeler, the city's transport leader, said: "The thorough and detailed independent study, carried out by Halcrow over several months, has found that the business case for the South Sub is just not strong enough. We should now concentrate on introducing trams and improving bus services."

Officials will now study the report before presenting their findings to councillors in May.