Local leaders support bringing rail back to Peterhead and Fraserburgh
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MSP Karen Adam held the second virtual meeting of her ambitious initiative ‘Making The Most Of The Coast: Tourism Forum’ last Wednesday.
The Forum brings together local businesses and organisations from the constituency of Banffshire And Buchan Coast to boost and sustain tourism across the area.
Stakeholders of Ms Adam’s Tourism Forum welcomed leaders of the Campaign for North East Rail (CNER).
Attendees were able to pose questions to CNER on the viability of the campaign and what benefits bringing rail back to Peterhead and Fraserburgh could bring, including increasing freight capacity, and the economic benefit to the area and local businesses.
The MSP, who was first elected last year, is hosting another meeting with CNER tomorrow (August 10), this time available to members of the public.
The event kicks off at 7pm at the Rescue Hall in Peterhead.
The Banffshire And Buchan Coast politician has been vocal in her support of bringing rail back to Peterhead and Fraserburgh and has described the prospect as “realistic” if it gets enough public backing.
Ms Adam has previously vowed to do “everything I can” to bring back rail links to Peterhead and Fraserburgh following a cross-party meeting on Friday June 24 with the Scottish Government’s Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth MSP.
Commenting, Banffshire And Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam said: “The Campaign for North East Rail have set out clear proposals for how we can achieve bringing rail back to Peterhead and Fraserburgh, and I am fully supportive of this initiative.
"It’s made the idea of rail an achievable and realistic prospect for the towns and surrounding areas but it’s important as many of us are vocal in our support of this to showcase there is public demand.
“For anyone who’d like to find out more, I am hosting a public meeting on Wednesday August 10 in Peterhead at the Rescue Hall.
“The benefits of rerailing the North East is multifaceted, bringing freight off roads, reducing road damage, congestion and traffic which in turn will reduce road accidents.
"It will also vastly increase the overall freight capacity that businesses in the area will benefit from via the use of rail.
“The tourism potential alone is transformational.
"By connecting a large part of the north east this will open up our beautiful coastline to so many more travellers looking to spend money and see the best of what Scotland has to offer - but not only that - of course rail works both ways.
"Therefore, the people living and working here will also benefit from the easy access to the rest of the country’s rail network and the benefits of accessibility that will bring.
“Peterhead and Fraserburgh are Scotland’s two largest towns that don’t have any rail links but our economic contribution is huge through use of our ports alone.
"Both of these towns have been identified as regeneration areas and investing in rail here will undoubtedly have a positive impact in transforming our areas and contribute toward putting more money in the pockets of people who live and work here.”
Chairperson of the Broch Business Together Association Ainsley Dyga said: “At first I was very sceptical about the rail link thinking it was a very pie in the sky idea which would never happen but after being on the meeting last week I’m more positive this will go forward.
“I couldn’t see how they could rerail an area and where they would find the money.
"The speakers were very good at listening to thoughts and ideas and will take on board things that were put to them.
“It will provide a greater reach for the public and along with improved transportation links will open up a whole new avenue of tourists for the area.
"There will need to be things put in place for this to happen and there will be disruption but I think the bigger goal is definitely worth it.
“Easing congestion with taking freight off the roads and lowering carbon emissions can all only be a good thing.
"Here’s hoping it all takes shape very soon.”
Chairperson of Peterhead Community Council Sharon Bradford said: “As the largest town in Aberdeenshire, and in Scotland without rail links, it is hugely disappointing that in 2022, we remain disconnected from the rest of Scotland in terms of rail infrastructure.
“The benefits of re-establishing rail links would be widespread, not only for tourism, but for industry and also in terms of accessibility.
"We continually hear that Peterhead and Fraserburgh are key priorities for regeneration - let’s see that translate to become a reality.
“Peterhead Community Council welcome the efforts of CNER and Karen Adam MSP, to link the north east to the rest of Scotland, and are 100 percent in support of this campaign”
Fraserburgh's Tina Gibbins, of Ban-Car Hotel, said: “I would definitely favour the North East Railway line through Peterhead and then up to Fraserburgh.
"We always feel that the north east corner is forgotten about and it has so much to offer.
“For the hotel and the area it would definitely bring more tourists.
"It would undeniably lessen traffic, especially by reducing freight from the roads.”
Councillor for Peterhead South And Cruden Stephen Smith said: “I first raised the issue of looking at restoring a rail link north from Dyce in 2013, which ultimately resulted in NESTRANS conducting a study in 2016.
"I believe there were flaws in the approach adopted by that study, but it was nevertheless a useful first step.
“The SNP has already delivered and continues to deliver on big infrastructure projects across the north-east, such as the AWPR, Inveramsay Bridge, upgrading the rail line between Aberdeen and Inverurie, a new station at Kintore - after years of underinvestment in road and rail by previous governments.
“Connecting our communities is vital to seeing them achieve their full potential.
"The success of the Borders Railway provides a template and shows what can be done.”
