| Strathspey Director sets the case for Grantown |
The train that departed from Grantown West on October 18th 1965 really was the last one ever! was how Strathspey Railway director, John Partridge concluded his presentation to the Highland Rail Partnership at their meeting on 12th February. Unless, that is, the funds can be found to provide what is becoming known as the Gaich tunnel as part of the A95 Trunk road realignment south of Grantown on Spey where the road and the route of railway cross.
In a presentation to the Partnership outlining the growing development of the Strathspey Railway, Mr. Partridge was drawing attention to the one off opportunity that currently exists to make provision for the railway to again serve the historic town. By extending the railway it gave it new purpose he said. It would open Grantown to the potential of the national rail network (the Strathspey already has through working of the Royal Scotsman), give it a new high quality tourist attraction and provide potential for the redevelopment of freight. In addition it would give Strathspey a tourist attraction of national scale.
The major obstacle to achieving these objectives was the crossing of the A95. As currently planned the work will be completed within the 2002/03 financial year and if it is completed with out the tunnel the opportunity would be gone for a long time and may never return. The cost of providing the facility is not known but could be around £200,000/£250,000 but whatever the price the Strathspey Railway was not in a position to fund such an amount. Regrettably the Scottish Executive as Trunk Road Authority and The Heritage Lottery Fund had declined to assist and ERDF funding could not be available until 2004 by which time it would be too late. (Continued)
On the positive side, Highland Council are giving their best support and with additional input from the Highland Rail Partnership he felt that the sources of funding may be able to be unlocked in time.
In the event the Partnership backed the Railways proposals unanimously and agreed to propose to the Scottish Executive, in the strongest terms, that the Executive should fund the entire cost of the improvements including the tunnel. Highland Council are also initiating an investigation into alternative sources of funding for the project.
Enquiries: Strathspey Railway - Ron Black 01389-752214 e.mail: publicity@strathspeyrailway.co.uk
