Detail lacking from Network Rail plans – Alexander  

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Lib Dem MP Danny Alexander has given a cautious welcome to plans published by Network Rail in Scotland which include significant investment in the Aberdeen to Inverness line and some improvements to journey time for the Highland Line. The projected cost of the Aberdeen to Inverness improvements is £200 million, spread between 2014/15 and 2018/19, while investment planned for the Highland Line within the same period is expected to be worth around £35 million. Mr Alexander earlier this week addressed the conference of the International Association of Transport Professionals in Aviemore and highlighted the modest scale of current Highland rail investments compared with the £500 million already being borrowed by Network Rail against its assets in Scotland to invest in improving services between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Commenting...