MSP Karen Adam secures debate on north-east rail in Scottish Parliament
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Earlier this week, SNP MSP Karen Adam called on colleagues from across the political spectrum to work together to bring rail back to Peterhead, Fraserburgh, and Ellon.
Ms Adam sent out the appeal after tabling a Member’s Business Motion in the Scottish Parliament backing the Campaign for North East Rail (CNER) in their campaign to bring Fraserburgh, Ellon and Peterhead back into the rail network ‘as a matter of priority’ and to ‘benefit the wider north-east and all of Scotland.’
The calls from the Banffshire & Buchan Coast representative was met with support from MSPs of every party in the Scottish Parliament, including many from the SNP benches, as well as support from Labour, Conservatives, Greens, and Lib Dems.
Having achieved more than enough cross-party support, the Motion is set to be debated by MSPs in the Chamber.
Karen Adam MSP recently opened the first debate at the SNP’s 88th Annual Conference on October 8 in Aberdeen where she secured the unanimous support from delegates at the Party conference, cementing the prospect of rerailing the north-east into SNP policy.
Just days later, the Scottish Government published figures for the projects set to benefit from the Just Transition Fund, confirming CNER are to have been awarded £250,000 for a feasibility study to examine the proposed rail links.
The JTF is a £500 million ten-year commitment from the Scottish Government that will support projects in the north-east and Moray which contribute towards the region’s transition to net zero.
Support for Ms Adam’s ‘Rerailing Scotland’ motion has received the support of 26 other MSPs across all political parties in the Scottish Parliament.
Commenting, Karen Adam MSP said: “I am delighted to have achieved considerable cross-party support from MSPs in the Scottish Parliament on my ‘Rerailing Scotland’ motion.
"We’ve seen support from every single party in the Scottish Parliament on this, each coming together to back rail back to Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Ellon.
“The Campaign for North East Rail has gone from strength to strength since they launched.
"Recently being awarded £250,000 from the Scottish Government for a feasibility study, and of course, receiving the backing of the SNP at our recent Party conference.
"The benefits of rail is going to be huge, from increasing tourism, supporting businesses, reducing wear and tear on our roads and supporting Scotland’s ambition as a net-zero nation.
“Now that this Motion has reached sufficient support from colleagues, the next step is debating the proposals in the Scottish Parliament, and I hope to see more representatives get behind the campaign.
"I’ve received countless emails of support from constituents and local businesses and there is incredible demand for this.
"The cross party work on this project has been so refreshing and I hope this will continue going forward.”
Commenting, Co-chair of CNER, Wyndham Williams said:
“The Campaign for North East Rail are grateful of the cross-party support from MSP's regarding Karen Adam MSP's motion on 'Rerailing Scotland'.
"Bringing rail back to Ellon, Peterhead, and Fraserburgh has reached phenomenal support from residents, local businesses, and politicians across the political spectrum.
“There is significant demand for connecting these communities to the rail network, bringing economic, social and environmental benefits. Rail connections have transformed lives of people in the Borders and will soon do so in Levenmouth. The case for doing the same in the North East is beyond question.”
