SNP MSP Karen Adam has hailed a "positive" meeting with the Scottish Transport Minister as she vowed to do "everything I can" to bring new rail lines to the north east of Scotland.
The MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast has laid out her plans on how to present the case for bringing rail to Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
Her announcement follows a cross-party meeting that took place in Aberdeen on Friday with Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth and members of the Campaign for North East Rail (CNER).
Adam said bringing rail to the north east would “transform Scotland’s economic output and international trading potential”.
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She said: “I am delighted to have met with the Scottish Government’s Transport Minister today to push for rail investment to not just Peterhead but Fraserburgh as well.
“The meeting was really positive with the minister recognising both the societal and economic benefits of bringing rail all the way to the Broch.
“Rerailing Scotland and bringing rail to the north east coastline will undoubtedly transform Scotland’s economic output and international trading potential.
“Bringing freight trains via rail will do exactly that for the area.”
Adam said that after “positive discussions” with the Transport Minister, she will be hosting a public meeting for residents in the communities of Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
She went on: “The benefits of making this campaign a reality will be absolutely colossal by making roads safer for car drivers, reducing wear and tear on roads, getting lorries off the road with use of freight trains and unlocking the north east coast to wider tourism and businesses.”
The MSP said her party was “serious” about investing in the area, saying the need for a sustainable form of transport in the region is “clear”.
She said: “The Scottish Government has been actively engaging with me in regard to bringing rail here, there is a real appetite for this, particularly with driving regeneration where there has been rural deprivation. This engagement shows just how serious the SNP is about investing in the region and opening up our economy.
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“Peterhead is the biggest town in Scotland that is not served by the rail network and it’s also the largest white fishing port in Europe. The need for an environmentally sustainable transport solution for the area is clear. It’s now up to all of us in the Banffshire and Buchan area to make this project a reality.”
Jordan Jack from CNER urged those in the north east to stand up in support of new railway services.
He said: "The case for building a railway all the way to the broch and Peterhead is strong, for passengers, businesses and for our coming Just Transition. It was great to have the opportunity to discuss this with the Transport Minister today, our campaign now has a clear path forward.
“It’s our job to build a case, and we need the North East to stand up collectively and say 'we want this railway to happen'."
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