Date: 19/01/2007

The Herald 19/01/2007. An eight-minute, 300mph rail journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh is being considered by Tory transport planners. Chris Grayling, the Shadow Transport Secretary, said yesterday he wants a business plan drawn up for the next generation of rail travel, which could make magnetic levitation, or maglev, a feature of busy inter-city routes. Few such projects exist beyond experimental prototypes, with the only commercial route in Shanghai in China. So far the technology, using powerful magnets to lift the train off the track and propel it forward, is seen as suitable only for short journeys of less than 50 miles. As the entire shadow cabinet met in Edinburgh yesterday, Mr Grayling arrived at Waverley Station and announced the routes seen as suitable are between Edinburgh and Glasgow and Manchester and Leeds. This is being considered as an option alongside a major investment in more conventional high-speed rail, with support from Scottish Tories as an idea to be included in their manifesto for the Holyrood election in May. Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Tory deputy leader, explained: "Whilst this would be a significant capital outlay, it would reduce the usage of and the congestion on the M8."