Malcolm Bruce the MP for Gordon today called on the Government to issue its response to proposals for high-speed rail services between London and Scotland as soon as possible.

Speaking after a private meeting today (Thursday) with consultants who are advising the Government on high-speed rail today the MP said:

“In yesterday’s Queens Speech I was pleased to see the Government promise to issue its response to the proposals for high-speed rail between London and Scotland in this Parliamentary session.

“In my meeting with consultants who are advising the Secretary of State for Transport on high-speed rail, I made a strong case for the importance of extending any high-speed line to Scotland on the basis of business, cultural and practical arguments.

“This is an infrastructure investment with opportunities for the whole of the UK which would not only open up greater business potential in the north but would also take the pressure off the congested south-east.

“HSR could be the single best regional development investment project that any government could make. Compulsion and inducement have failed in the past but this would give people and businesses a real choice to base themselves whenever they wanted to over the route.

“For the north east, high speed links could cut the journey time to London to less than 5 hours.”

“This should be a national priority funded by the UK Government.”