Campaign builds up steam as it seeks a return for north-east rail connections
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The Campaign for North East Rail has launched a petition as part of its campaign to address the area's lacking rail infrastructure and offer a vastly improved public transport offering
Co-Chair, and train driver, Jordan Jack said: "Re-opening the lines is actually a viable option.
"Recently NESTRANS published their regional transport study, and in it they conclude that re-opening the Buchan line is poor value for money - and as such they are not recommending re-opening any lines in Aberdeenshire at all up to 2040 but we don't think that's acceptable.
"This period is the most critical time we have for fighting the climate emergency, and we need to get people out of cars and into public transport, and the only we were are going to do that is by providing fast, modern reliable public transport."
The group argues that the NESTRANS conclusion is based on studies undertaken in 2017, but they feel that data from the expansion of the Borders railway has out-performed predicted passenger numbers from similar studies.
They are campaigning to secure a feasibility study into rail proposals between Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Banchory.
This railway would be transformational for public transport in the region.
This includes -
Reopening the Formartine and Buchan Railway to Peterhead and Fraserburgh with significant realignment north of Ellon to improve journey times.
Reopening the Deeside line as far as Banchory.
Integrating this new railway with current Scotrail services to the Central Belt and London bound services such as the LNER and Caledonian Sleeper services.
Introducing an integrated bus service that will meet every train, every time at Banchory, and run to Braemar following the A93, stopping at each town only once as if it were a train.
Going forwards proposals to reopen other lines including the full length of the Deeside line to Ballater will be taken forwards by the campaign.
The petition can be found at https://www.campaignfornortheastrail.org/petition and more information on the campaign at https://www.facebook.com/CampaignforNorthEastRail
