Question reference: S5W-35438
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 February 2021
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to decarbonise the Borders Railway.
Answer
In July 2020, we published the Rail Services Decarbonisation Plan, an action plan to decarbonise Scotland’s railways by 2035. The Plan focusses on decarbonising transport through the achievement of modal shift for both passengers and for freight.
In addition to this, our recently published Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 (STPR2) (Phase 1) confirms the action being taken to decarbonise the Borders railway.
This will include the removal of diesel-powered units through the introduction of Battery Electric Multiple Unit (BEMU) train services, via partial electrification, with the potential for full electrification of the line and move to full-electric (EMU) services in the future.
Further detail on STPR2 can be found via:- Strategic Transport Projects Review 2