Posted 26th August 2008 | 2 Comments

More people in Scotland taking the train

Scotland’s Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson

FIGURES released by the Scottish government show that rail passenger numbers are at their highest level for more than 40 years — but car use on Scotland's roads has also increased.

Bus passenger figures were up as well — according to ‘Main Transport Trends,’ a compendium of statistics for the year 2007 — but Scotland’s Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson it was the increase in road traffic that showed the scale of the challenge facing the country.

Opening a new park and ride facility in Stirling, the Minister said: "The rises in rail and bus passenger numbers are very encouraging and show that more and more people across the country are taking advantage of public transport for business and for leisure.

"Public transport can offer a more cost effective option than the car, is better for the environment, and can be a lot less stressful, removing the frustration associated with the daily commute by car.

"We want to see more Scots make the switch — leaving the car at home in favour of rail, bus, cycling and walking — and we are providing more opportunities.”

But he added: "With today's figures also revealing that there were more vehicles on our roads in 2007, there is a challenge facing us all as we seek to persuade people to consider more sustainable travel choices.

"Facilities like the new park and ride scheme I am opening today in Stirling make a real difference, and as a government we are also investing significantly in public transport to improve journey times and the travel experience for all passengers."

Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • Brian Eastwood, Richmond VA, USA

    Eric.....You are dead right. Politicians continue to pander to the car centric public and only pay lip service public transport. They either do not believe in what they say or they or afraid of what the majority think. Regretably, our so called democratice system encourages leaderless cowards.

  • Eric Parkinson, Canterbury, UK

    I do hope the glaring contradiction in the above article is understood by the readership.

    On the one hand, the Transport Minster says "Public transport can offer a more cost effective option than the car, is better for the environment, and can be a lot less stressful, removing the frustration associated with the daily commute by car".

    And at the same time he opens an out-of-town car park which will promote car use for the major leg of a journey and thus subsidise commuting by the private car and undermine public transport. Substitution of a token bus ride at the end of a car journey--which itself will be encouraged by cheap out-of-town parking, will not promote low energy, sustainable travel behaviour.