Vision for Perth railway station future

Oct 22 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Dear Editor, – I refer to the article (PA, October 19) where Murdo Fraser MSP suggested that we should have a vision for the existing Perth railway station.

I would respectfully point out that the vision Murdo suggests has been with Perth and Kinross Council Planning Department for many years with the intention of demolishing the existing entrance and having the façade restored in its original magnificence.

I therefore confirm that we, as a council, have the vision but regretfully not the money as Transport Scotland and Network Rail seem somewhat laid back on this important improvement from a communication and development aspect.

The council's plan is to integrate a rail/bus terminus by using some of the available platforms on the west side of the station which would allow a walk on walk off from bus to rail service and vice versa. Access would be from the County Place entry (the old Red Star depot) which would reduce the volume of traffic going through Perth City Centre.

As far as services between Perth and Edinburgh are concerned they have been improved over the years by Tactran who are involved in bus and rail services within the area. Indeed, we should be looking in more detail at the need for increased services between Perth, Aberdeen and Inverness.

We are in a situation where if money was available then Perth could be a core area for transportation across Scotland which would be to the benefit of the area socially and economically.

In conclusion, it would appear on the surface that massive amounts of money are being spent on the Central Belt with anything past Stirling (which has an attractive station) being ignored.

The proportion of the population within the Central Belt is obviously higher and it is understandable that money is being spent there but we must not forget the area of Scotland north of Stirling and beyond to ensure communications for the public are adequate.

Councillor Alan Jack,

Ward 9,

Almond and Earn.