Alexander welcomes sleeper cash commitment  

Highland Lib Dem MP and Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander has welcomed Transport Scotland's commitment today to match £50million which was pledged by the UK Government to help renew the rolling stock for the Caledonian Sleeper. In its Rail2014 consultation document on the next Scotrail franchise, the Scottish Government placed the future of the sleeper service in fresh doubt – as well as the daytime direct rail services from Inverness and Aberdeen to London. In the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK Government would offer an extra £50million to save the sleeper links, so long as the commitment was matched by Scottish Ministers in Edinburgh who are responsible for the service. Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: "I'm glad that the Scottish Government is willing to match the funding and priority which...