New Bid to Re-Open South City Line Launched

By NO BYLINE

A NEW campaign has been launched to win public support for the return of the passenger railway line for south Edinburgh.

The Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) today lodged a petition with the Scottish Parliament calling for the reintroduction of services on the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway.

The scheme is likely to cost around GBP 18 million and E-Rail – a private company formed to fight for the re-opening of the “South Sub” – has already secured around half of the cash from land owners along the route.

Campaigners will spend the summer persuading the public and politicians to put pressure on the Scottish Executive to support the move, which would see train services in some of the city’s suburbs for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Portobello councillor Lawrence Marshall, spokesperson for CRAG,

said: “The re-opening of the South Sub would transform cross- city travel, providing a rail link to Waverley and the planned interchange at Haymarket – at very little cost.”

The e-petition on the Parliament’s website goes live today and will be open until September 8.

A website – www.reopenthesouthsub.org.uk – has also been established.

(c) 2007 Evening News; Edinburgh (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.