The Cross Border sleeper service linking England with Scotland has been assured a long term future with the Scottish National Party agreeing to match a £50 million funding package from Westminster, allowing the ageing sleeper fleet to be refurbished.
It had been feared that, because of the options laid out in the Transport Scotland public consultation, the service would be abandoned after 2014 if a deal between ministers in Edinburgh and London could not have been reached before the end of 2011.
Scottish transport minister Keith Brown said:
“I am delighted to now confirm that we have submitted proposals to the Treasury that will see us invest, as a minimum, £50m to ensure that the Caledonian sleepers are enhanced to offer better facilities and a more responsive service to passenger needs.”
A Transport Scotland public consultation on the country’s rail network is currently underway, with submissions having to be in by February 20th, and is asking for opinions on the sleeper service.
Prior to the investment announcement it was feared that one of the options contained in the consultation document for reducing or scrapping the service would be taken up.
