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<Sidelines home » Archives » February 2009
Wednesday, February 18th Kittybrewster station It was encouraging to read confirmation that Kintore near Aberdeen will soon have a railway station. NESTRANS and the council should also consider encouraging Network Rail to reopen Kittybrewster station in Aberdeen. Aberdeen's central station is on the "wrong" side of the city-centre for the majority of people in the city. The result is that traffic heading to the station has to cross the city centre, and most people arriving at Aberdeen station also have to cross the city centre to reach their final destination, adding significantly to their journey time. Kittybrewster station is well-placed for big employers like the hospital and the University, and depending on what the Council ultimately decides to do with Berryden Road, is accessible for people in large parts of the north west of the city. Increased congestion would make it a more attractive option than when the station closed in 1968. [link] Monday, February 16th trams In 2000, John Prescott reckoned on building 25 new tram schemes by 2010. 2 have so far been delivered. It says something about those hazy days that at the time it didn't seem impossible. Swansea is the latest city where councillors are discussing trams. Hats off for trying, but the main campaigner, a Liberal Democrat, has said he favours private methods of funding much of the project, estimated at 400 million pounds. That sounds a pretty much unfeasible amount to raise from the private sector, and it seems unlikely that central government would be interested following Leeds' and Liverpool's failed bids. [link] |