4. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for any major rail development projects beyond the end of 2024. (S6O-03209)

Scottish ministers remain firmly committed to infrastructure investment as a key factor in securing economic growth and high-quality public infrastructure across Scotland. That has been made much harder due to cuts in our capital budget imposed by the United Kingdom Government.

The Scottish Government’s investment in Network Rail’s operations, maintenance and renewals for Scotland’s railway will increase by £0.45 billion, from £3.75 billion in the 2019 to 2024 period to £4.2 billion throughout 2024 to 2029.

We continue to progress a pipeline of enhancement projects. Sue Webber may particularly note the planned electrification of the line from Glasgow to East Kilbride, which is targeted to be delivered by December 2025.

I thank the Cabinet secretary for outlining the developments that are in the pipeline. However, she will be aware that residents of Winchburgh are weary of the Scottish National Party-Green Government’s continued shirking of responsibility for building a train station in their town. On 8 March, the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, wrote to me, outlining his understanding that West Lothian Council is responsible for organising and issuing invitations to the multistakeholder meeting. West Lothian Council first wrote to the Scottish Government in June 2023, but only yesterday received a response committing to a date for the meeting. Given that the Winchburgh train station project is not developer led, the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland must take charge and lead on it. Now that the minister has agreed to the meeting, can the cabinet secretary assure members that building the station will be a priority for the Government?

As the member well knows, I am the Constituency MSP for Winchburgh. In that constituency capacity, I have long campaigned for a station that was always to be developer led. To avoid a conflict of interest, I am recused from having any involvement in Government interests on the matter, but I can—and will—still act on such issues as the constituency MSP. As such, I will ask the lead Minister to write to the member to address her concerns, as is appropriate. I am glad to hear that the member has received a reply about the meeting and about that progress.

Does the Cabinet secretary believe that the London to Birmingham high speed 2 rail project, which is now expected to cost an eye-watering £583 million per mile, benefits Scotland in any way whatsoever? If so, how?

Since 2009, the Scottish Government has reconnected 16 communities to the rail network, with new stations and two more stations planned to open this year. However, the eye-watering curtailed HS2 project will have limited, if any, benefit to Scotland. The collapse in capital spend elsewhere by the Westminster Government harms the economy and harms Scotland.

The Cabinet secretary will be aware that East Lothian is one of the fastest-growing areas in Scotland and that Haddington is one of the fastest-growing towns locally. The Rail Action Group, East of Scotland—RAGES—is campaigning for the reopening of Haddington’s branch line. Will she agree to look carefully at the campaign and its calls, and seek to get Haddington back on track and back on to our rail network?

I am aware of the campaign in Haddington. I know that both Mr Hoy and the Constituency MSP, Paul McLennan, have pursued the issue. It is important to address the interests of communities. As we are all aware, it can take some time to develop such plans, but I will ask my officials, along with colleagues at Network Rail and ScotRail, to be aware of the Haddington developments.

On 2 November 2023, the Cabinet secretary told me that we would get a response to the proposal for a train station at Newburgh, made in line with the Scottish transport appraisal guidance

“in the next few weeks.”—[

Official Report

, 2 November 2023; c 51.]

It is now months later. When will the people in Newburgh hear whether they have been successful?

On 16 January, my officials at Transport Scotland met the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership—SEStran—along with representatives of its consultants and the Newburgh train station group to discuss the detailed options appraisal report for Newburgh. The appraisal is considering a range of multimodal transport options, including a station at Newburgh. The appraisal group has requested from SEStran further information that underpins the detail presented in the report. Once that additional information that has been requested from the promoter of the appraisal has been received and considered, Transport Scotland officials will provide feedback on the appraisal report.