Chamber and committees

The proposed high speed rail line between Edinburgh and Glasgow is intended to complement the interim completion of the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme, and address future passenger demand.

As noted in my answer to S4W-11209, on 23 November 2012, the Scottish Partnership Group for High Speed Rail delivered a pre-appraisal planning report to me in January 2012.

That report presented a number of planning criteria for the development of new high speed lines in Scotland. Amongst these were the technical criteria that any new line and infrastructure should be built with capacity for European Loading Gauge, offer enhanced line resilience, and be designed with the capability of accommodating 400 metre trains, and for speeds up to 400 kilometres per hour. This is necessary to ensure full technical interoperability with the HS2 line being developed in England, and to future-proof new lines.

However, it proposed that initial HS2 services to Scotland will be operated using UK gauge ‘classic compatible’ rolling stock, capable of operation on both newly built high speed lines, and onwards using the existing network. We consider that existing UK gauge rolling stock, similar to that used for commuter services between Kent and London, would be appropriate for use on a new Edinburgh to Glasgow line. The consequence of this is that there will be no requirement to consider the extensive modification of existing stations to accommodate high speed services as part of the proposed initial planning process.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The estimate of the cost of construction will be determined by route appraisal and final design decisions.

However, I have made clear that we must challenge the per kilometre cost assumptions of delivery of high speed rail elsewhere in the UK. A first stage development of high speed rail in Scotland will only be required to accommodate standard UK gauge trains and this will avoid the need for expensive station redevelopment and build planned for elsewhere in Britain.

The budget for Major Public Transport Projects funds specific commitments including the Borders Railway project, the Paisley Corridor Improvement project, the Waverley Station Redevelopment, the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme and our contribution to the Edinburgh Trams project. It is managed on a programme basis and is therefore not allocated to specific projects.

The budget for Major Public Transport Projects funds specific commitments including The Borders Railway project, The Paisley Corridor Improvement project, The Waverley Station Redevelopment, The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and our contribution to the Edinburgh Trams project. It is managed on a programme basis and is therefore not allocated to specific projects.

In 2013-14 Sustrans will receive £9.66 million for community links and safe routes to school infrastructure projects. Cycling Scotland will receive £2 million for softer measures such as the “Give Me Cycle Space” road safety campaign and cycle training, all of which are contained in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland

The budget for Major Public Transport Projects funds specific commitments including the Borders Railway project, the Paisley Corridor Improvement project, The Waverley Station Redevelopment, The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and our contribution to the Edinburgh Trams project. It is managed on a programme basis and is therefore not allocated to specific projects.

The reduction in the 2013-14 spending plan for rail infrastructure reflects a number of factors.

Network Rail receive their funding via two routes – a proportion as a direct grant from the Scottish Government (Rail Infrastructure) and the balance through track access charges paid by First ScotRail and subsidised by the Scottish Government (Rail Franchise). The split between the two is determined by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) and changes over time. Compared to 2012-13, a higher proportion is due to be paid as track access charges through the ScotRail franchise in 2013-14 thereby increasing the Rail Franchise spending plan and reducing the Rail Infrastructure spending plan by an equivalent amount. Total funding for Network Rail’s operation, maintenance, renewal and enhancement of the rail infrastructure in Scotland is planned to increase by around £30 million between 2012-13 and 2013-14 based on current inflation expectations.

The ORR’s determination of Network Rail’s funding requirement in Scotland for Control Period 4 (2009-10 to 2013-14) also assumed that the company would improve on the efficiency of its controllable operating, maintenance, and renewal costs by at least 21% over the five-year control period. In addition, Network Rail expects to deliver efficiencies over and above the ORR’s original determination and these are reflected in future spending plans.

The process for calculating customer contributions for stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package was changed on 1 May 2012 for all customers surveyed on or after that date. The reason for making the changes was to improve the process so that it is more transparent - there had been no standard price list, so customers had not always known the cost upfront; fairer – removing any variability depending on the contractor allocated to do the work; and easier for the customer to understand, which assists them in knowing they have been charged the right amount.

The previous customer contribution calculation was very complicated as it depended on the details of the work to be done in each case. The customer contribution for customers surveyed on or after 1 May 2012 depends only on the fuel type of the heating system, the relative performance of an electric heating system and whether a gas connection or electric load upgrade is required.

Any bus operator wishing to participate in Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People is required to use ITSO compliant smart-enabled Electronic Ticket Machines (ETMs) and Related Infrastructure approved by Scottish Ministers.

There are three approved suppliers of ETMs originating from the original Framework Agreement:

Almex (trading name of Hoeft & Wessel, a German company)

Parkeon (a French company who acquired Wayfarer)

VIX Technology (formerly ERG)

There is also another ITSO-accredited supplier, Ticketer, but as yet no formal testing has taken place in respect of its compatibility with the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme.

In addition there might be agents or “re-sellers” of some approved equipment. Transport Scotland has not engaged directly with these agents and is not aware of their arrangements with the manufacturers. It would be the operator’s responsibility to satisfy themselves as to the appropriateness of such arrangements.

Transport Scotland has guidance for bus operators who wish to purchase ITSO smart-enabled ETMs and related infrastructure. This information has been placed in the Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 54432).

Where a community transport operator does not wish to participate in the concessionary travel scheme, there is no requirement for them to purchase ITSO smart-enabled ETMs.