This page contains information about the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee's inquiry into the potential benefits of high-speed rail services.

A debate was held in the Scottish Parliament on the Committes's report on 22 April 2009.

Further background information on the inquiry

• Call for views on the inquiry (closed on 17 October 2008)
• Responses to the call for views
• Briefing paper from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre on High Speed Rail (231 KB pdf)

Remit

The inquiry focused on five key areas set out in the following remit—

• To identify the potential economic and environmental benefits to be gained through the development of a high-speed rail network linking Scotland with major English conurbations, London and Europe via High Speed 1;
• Options for ensuring that the existing rail network within Scotland can connect effectively with any high-speed network;
• The practicalities and costs of constructing a high-speed line and the different options for routes and train types;
• The potential for high-speed and improved links to achieve modal shift away from domestic aviation and long distance driving, as opposed to meeting increased overall demand; and
• To identify any barriers to the development of improved high-speed rail links.

Decision to hold an inquiry

The Committee discussed its approach to the inquiry at its meeting on 24 June 2008.

• Minute of the meeting
• Official Report of the meeting
• Committee papers associated with the meeting (99 KB pdf)

Evidence on the inquiry

The Committee took evidence on the inquiry at the following committee meetings—

• Tuesday 11 November 2008 - Official Report of the Meeting

  • Garry Clark, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scottish Chambers of Commerce;

  • Owen Kelly, Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise;

  • Iain Duff, Chief Economist and Policy Manager, Scottish Council for Development and Industry;

  • Ron Hewitt, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce;

  • Anthony Hughes, Transport Policy and Planning Manager, Glasgow City Council;

  • Chris Day, Transport, City Development, City of Edinburgh Council;

  • Ron Culley, Chief Executive, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport;

  • Trond Haugen, Rail Specialist, SEStran;

  • James King, Convener, Passengers' View Scotland;

  • Robert Samson, Passenger Link Manager, Passenger Focus.

• Tuesday 18 November 2008 - Official Report of the Meeting

  • Councillor Barbara Reid, Cabinet Member for Environment, London Borough of Hounslow, and Colin Elliff High Speed Rail Consultant, 2M Group;

  • Graham Bell, Chairman, High Speed 2 Scotland;

  • Julie Mills, Director, Greengauge 21;

  • Colin Howden, Director, and Paul Tetlaw, Chair, Transform Scotland;

  • Professor Roderick Smith, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London;

  • Michael Hayes, Business Manager, Rail Planning, Atkins.
• Supplementary written evidence from Professor Roderick Smith

• Tuesday 25 November 2008 - Official Report of the Meeting
  • Michael Beswick,Office of Rail Regulation;
  • Richard Eccles, Network Rail;
  • Jerry Farquharson, First ScotRail;
  • Susan Goldsmith, National Express East Coast;
  • Arthur Leathley, Virgin Trains;
  • Jim Morgan, Association of Train Operating Companies;
  • Nigel Wunsch, Network Rail.
• Supplementary written evidence from Virgin Trains

• Tuesday 16 December 2008 - Official Report of the Meeting
  • Malcolm Reed and Claire Keggie, Transport Scotland;
  • Srewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change