Bigger thinking is needed north of the border when it comes to railways, according to an Edinburgh based think tank.

 

Reform Scotland has called for a new Scottish Rail Infrastructure Commission to devise a longer term vision for the railways, including a look at new lines from the central belt to both north and south.

 

The group is also critical of the Borders Railway scheme, which it says was taken forward in a “short sighted” manner, with bridges built only to accommodate the width of a single track.

 

Reform Scotland advisory board member Tom Harris, a former Labour party Transport Minister, said: “We are in danger of missing the bigger picture when it comes to discussing rail in Scotland. We need an injection of some creative, strategic thinking so that we can give the Scottish people a rail system built for the future and one to be proud of.”

 

A new infrastructure commission for railways would, he added, examine what ambitious projects are needed to boost the Scottish economy and transform connectivity. 

 

He also said that the Borders Railway scheme showed railway planning in Scotland to be too short term. “We must learn lessons from it, think big and plan long.”

 

The group also calls on Network Rail to devolve responsibilities for its Scottish Route to the Scottish Government.

 

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it is grateful to Reform Scotland for its comments. On the subject of the Borders Railway the spokesman added that reopening of the line was a cause for celebration for residents of the Borders and Midlothian who waited almost half a century to see services return to their area.

 

“We were always confident that, in time, it would deliver major economic opportunities and attract new investment, so it is pleasing to see strong evidence that visits and spending are up significantly as a direct result of the new railway.”

 

(Photo: Network Rail)