News - Opinion
| Contact the news and picture editor. |
|
Themes Ayr Station Hotel ScotRail HS2 Ayr Flying Scotsman MV Glen Rosa Aberdeen Peak fares Carlisle MV Glen Sannox Network Rail Caledonian MacBrayne Far North Line Dundee Aviemore Inverness Peak fare PS Waverley South Ayrshire Council Caledonian Sleeper SAVE Britain's Heritage
|
One thing we didn't need to learn from Lord Hardie's report into the Edinburgh tram fiasco is if you don't live near the line then your benefit is virtually non-existent.
(Permalink) Opinion Ratho Winchburgh |
|
... I'm talking, of course, about Ayr Station Hotel, once one of the grandest station hotels in the country but now empty and un-used. As you probably know, its currently covered by scaffolding and plastic sheeting thats turned the building into a great white iceberg slap bang in the middle of the town. But if we could see under the sheeting, wed see the beautiful red sandstone and the chateau-style finishes and flourishes designed by the great Scottish engineer Andrew Galloway who also did the incredible Glaisnock viaduct in Cumnock. To summarise: this is an important building. ...
(Permalink) Ayr Ayr Station Hotel Opinion  Ayr Station Hotel: Despite the sign there has been no welcome here for years now. Beautiful buddleia though. 17th July 2023.
 Ayr: Work is about to begin on a new staff accommodation block at Ayr station in the first phase of a programme that will unlock significant improvements for passengers and the operation of the station.  Ayr Station Hotel: The Station and Station Hotel at Ayr, seen here on 1st June 2012. The impressive structure was built to the design of Andrew Galloway, Chief Engineer of the G&SWR, in 1886. The view from the platf ... |
|
The long-awaited and expensive public inquiry report into Edinburgh's trams was utterly damning.
(Permalink) Edinburgh Trams Opinion |
|
|
|
Successive prime ministers have lacked the courage to end this vanity project. Is Rishi Sunak any different? In April 2020, the then chancellor Rishi Sunak gave his approval to a new railway to Birmingham, expected to cost £44bn. Contracts were promptly signed. The overall HS2 project is estimated at £100bn. An infuriated Whitehall official told me at the time: Never let that man say he cannot afford any item of public expenditure. The ambition was soon trimmed. HS2 will no longer go to Yorkshire, only to Birmingham and Manchester. A 10-year-old plan for Euston station, on which more than £100m has already been spent, must be radically redesigned. Rail passenger numbers even in the Midlands have fallen, leaving HS2 largely to benefit commuters into Birmingham and from London's home counties.
(Permalink) HS2 Opinion |
|
It is important not to overlook how much of the storm is somewhat faux, with opposition politicians at Holyrood seemingly keen to whip up a whirlwind at every opportunity when it comes to these Scottish Government-owned ferry services. [Full article requires subscription. -RS]
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Opinion |
|
Reinstating the north and north-east's lost railway lines would be costly, but we could lose out on so much if it doesn't happen.
(Permalink) Ellon Formartine and Buchan Railway Fraserburgh Opinion Peterhead  Fraserburgh: The railway goods offices at Fraserburgh, built in 1953, still survive in 2012 and are now under the ownership of the local authority social work department. My father rented the office at the bottom ...  Ellon: Looking north at Ellon on 15 May 1959. The Station Hotel is just visible on the left of the picture.  Peterhead: View over the buffer stops at Peterhead on 24 May 1969 showing D5323 at the platform with the Formartine and Buchan Railtour preparing to return to Aberdeen. |
|
When a couple of new ferries eventually appear in west coast waters, the colours will be the familiar red and black of Caledonian MacBrayne. Saltires will doubtless flutter from every port hole.
(Permalink) Caledonian MacBrayne Opinion Shipbuilding Tendering |
KML version
