Question reference: S6W-08994
- Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 31 May 2022
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 June 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its rail decarbonisation programme and the rolling programme of rail electrification schemes.
Answer
The first phase of a rail decarbonisation scheme to electrify the Fife route (Haymarket to Dalmeny section), is moving to construction.
Work on this estimated £55 million scheme will begin in June 2022 with the section between Haymarket and Dalmeny. It is due for completion by December 2024.
This scheme forms part of a rolling programme that is expected to see electrification extended to Dundee and Aberdeen.
Beyond this, further development work on the business cases for decarbonising the Borders Line has been approved to progress to the next design phase for partial electrification of the route using battery electric multiple units.
This continues the Scottish Government’s rolling programme of railway electrification, with work already in delivery on the East Kilbride and Barrhead routes.
Approval has also been given for a procurement competition to identify a preferred manufacturer and financier for new trains to operate decarbonised rail passenger services on the Fife and Borders routes .