The delivery date for Edinburgh’s new tramline and two new rail links to the Scottish capital have been put back, following a review of the country’s public transport programme.
Trams will begin running between the city’s Ocean Terminal and airport early in 2011, Scottish transport minister, Tavish Scott, said last week. This is some six months later than the council’s most recent estimate. Its original end-of-2009 target had ‘underestimated the length of the private Bill process,’ he said. Scott confirmed that the Scottish Executive’s original £375M pledge would rise to £450-500M with inflation.
An audit of all major schemes in its 10-year plan showed they were affordable and deliverable by the end of 2011. It also revised the costs and completion dates for the Waverley rail line to the Borders, and the new Edinburgh Airport Rail Link. Both are now expected to be completed by the end of 2011, although their promoters are aiming for 12 months earlier. The Borders line’s 2002 cost has been increased to £155M. Progress of the £550-660M airport link is subject to the passage of Transport Initiatives Edinburgh’s private Bill. The audit had established a ‘rigorous baseline against which I expect projects to be delivered,’ said Scott, promising consultation soon on a national transport strategy review.
Scotland’s major roads programme would also ‘hit budgets and be delivered on time,’ he promised. The corridor proposed for the Aberdeen western peripheral road is to be narrowed down next month, following detailed engineering and environmental studies. Draft orders are due by the end of the year. Construction of the new Kincardine bridge will start by summer, while proposals for upgrading the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse are to be published shortly.
ordering clarithromycin
buying clarithromycin
order biaxin cheapest biaxin
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
