2015 Edition
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Review 2015 Edition Foreword p01 2014 Events p03 Expanding the network p06 On track p08 Cutting edge p10 Improving the journey p12 Vision p16 2014 has seen record levels of investment in active travel Chief Executive Foreword 01 Events that took place in 2014 represented a momentous year for Transport Scotland and all its staff. I am pleased to present Transport Scotland’s sixth Annual Review, reporting on some of our headline achievements over what was an exceptional year for transport, seeing a £1.9 billion pound investment during 2014/15. Our focus throughout the year remained firmly The Traffic Scotland National Control Centre and Contact on delivering Ministers’ transport priorities and and Education Centre achieved success at the 12th commitments. Annual Scottish Transport Awards in June 2014, winning the excellence in Travel Information & Marketing category. The start of the year 2014-15 marked 100 days to The ScotRail franchise process received high praise from the commencement of the Glasgow Commonwealth Audit Scotland and the same body judged the process Games, where we played a significant role in the planning for the acquisition of Prestwick Airport to be reasonable and delivery of arrangements to ensure that the transport in the tight timescale. The year also saw the launch of network made a full and lasting contribution to the the Hydrogen Bus Refueling Station in Aberdeen. success of the event. Significant investment in transport infrastructure and services was showcased in a very The First Minister marked the start of work on the positive light, ensuring that Glasgow delivered what has Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie-Tipperty since been termed ‘the best games ever’. We were also road scheme (AWPR/B-T). The average speed camera a major contributor to the success of the 2014 Ryder system, covering sections of the A9 between Dunblane Cup, and this, together with all of the events that took and Inverness, has already seen a significant reduction place in 2014, represented a momentous year for in speeding in some sections of the route. We continue Transport Scotland and all its staff. to build strong foundations for modal shift to sustainable and active travel, with on-going development of cycling The latter part of 2014 saw new Ministers for the and electric charging infrastructure, promotion of Transport Sector. We were delighted to see Keith low carbon vehicles such as “green buses” and Brown MSP promoted to Cabinet Secretary and encouragement of associated behavioural change. welcomed a new Minister for Transport and Islands, Derek Mackay MSP. Finally, we concluded the year with Derek Mackay MSP, Minister for Transport and Islands hosting the We progressed the Scottish Government’s £3.5 billion first ever Scottish Transport Accessibility summit, rolling programme of rail electrification and improvements launching an ongoing collaborative venture to make and we also announced the award of the new ScotRail and sure that disabled people enjoy the same access Caledonian Sleeper franchises. Progress continued on the to transport as everyone else. new Borders Railway, which is due to open in September 2015. Other significant milestones in year included the A75 I thank all colleagues involved and also acknowledge Dunragit Bypass and the A77 Symington and Bogend Toll our partners across Scotland, who played a significant Improvements scheme, both of which opened to traffic in role in making this extraordinary year such a success. 2014. The A9 Dualling also reached a significant milestone with the award of three design consultancy contracts. New air routes were introduced, including those from Edinburgh to Philadelphia as well as Chicago and Doha. David Middleton The new MV Loch Seaforth was introduced to the Chief Executive Stornoway-Ullapool route this year. Transport Scotland Forth Replacement Crossing central pier construction 02 Transport Scotland - Annual Review 2015 2014 Events 03 2014 MOMENTOUS FOR SCOTLAND’S TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES Glasgow Central Station during the Commonwealth Games (Photo courtesy of Scott Hutchison, @WesternSMT Flickr) 04 Transport Scotland - Annual Review 2015 2014 Events 05 2014 was a momentous Working with partners and the country’s key transport stakeholders, year for Scotland’s Transport Scotland took an oversight transport infrastructure role in reviewing the transport planning arrangements and operational delivery and services. It presented of major events. With £1 billion invested in transport for the Commonwealth an excellent opportunity, Games alone, and hundreds of made through a collective thousands of journeys made, transport played a vital role in the success of 5.6m effort, to showcase these Games, the Ryder Cup and people passed through Glasgow Central (high level) other 2014 Homecoming events. Scotland’s transport and Edinburgh Waverley - more than double normal levels network to a global On 4th August, Glasgow hosted the inaugural event to commemorate audience of over the centenary of the Great War. This was centred at Glasgow Cathedral a billion people. and George Square. Transport Scotland played an active role in the complex journey planning, ensuring people 1800 going to and from the different Games additional train services ran from and Commemorative events were and to Glasgow Central Station able to travel unhindered. Commonwealth Games Transport Scotland delivered all transport infrastructure projects listed 7% the amount of traffic flows as Games commitments, including the went up on average (compared Airdrie-Bathgate railway construction, with a similar period in 2013) Dalmarnock station rebuild and M74 extension. These projects will leave a lasting legacy of reduced journey times, and of new and enhanced sustainable public transport, for the benefit of the whole of Scotland. Ryder Cup £3.5m As a legacy benefit of the 2014 Ryder invested in Gleneagles Cup, Gleneagles Station was upgraded Station redevelopment to provide safe access to the golf course for pedestrians and to provide lasting access for disabled people. Both the completion of the Gleneagles Station refurbishment and the opening of the new link road connecting the station to the nearby A9 were key to 50,100 the Ryder Cup success. On each of train journeys to and from the three match days an average Gleneagles during the Cup of 45,000 spectators from across the world attended the event at Gleneagles. Gleneagles Rail Station This page: The Forth Replacement Project 06 Transport Scotland - Annual Review 2015 Major Transport Infrastructure Projects 07 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/ M8 M73 M74 Motorway A96 Dualling Inverness - Aberdeen Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) Improvements The Strategic Business Case for dualling In December 2014, Scotland’s Construction work on the £500m M8 the A96 and the first Environmental largest Non Profit Distributing (NPD) M73 M74 Motorway Improvements is report for the Strategic Environmental EXPANDING contract to construct the AWPR/B-T now well underway. Most of the works Assessment were published in was awarded, following the shortest have been remote from the existing September 2014. In October 2014, procurement period for an NPD carriageways, with online works to the preferred option for the 30km project of this size and complexity. increase from spring 2015. When section of the A96 between Inverness complete in spring 2017, it is estimated and Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) was The ground-breaking ceremony, that improvements to the M8 will take announced. These are the first steps THE attended by the First Minister, up to 18 minutes off a journey at daily in developing a robust plan to improve marked the start of construction peak times for vehicles using the connectivity between Inverness and works in February 2015. When busiest sections of the motorway. Aberdeen and demonstrates the complete AWPR/B-T will cut journey Scottish Government’s commitment times across Aberdeen by half. A9 Dualling Programme to investing in this strategically NETWORK In December 2014, we awarded important route. Forth Replacement Crossing Project the final design contract for the The Forth Replacement Crossing A9 Dualling Programme. The three Other Significant Milestones Transport Scotland is investing more than Project has now seen a total of contracts, each worth approximately The A75 at Dunragit and at £195m worth of savings since £40 million, are already supporting Hardgrove to Kinmount, together ever before to connect communities and construction began, with a new over 230 engineering design related with the A77 at Symington and expand our transport infrastructure across £1.35-£1.4 billion budget range jobs in Scotland, 46 of which are new. Bogend Toll, opened to traffic in announced in October 2014. Work on this improvement is the first 2014, improving access to and Scotland. 2014 has seen completion of works in the Scottish Government’s £3 billion from Scotland’s west coast ports. at A75 Dunragit, A77 Symington and Bogend All three towers on the new A9 Dualling Programme. In addition The schemes improved connectivity, Queensferry Crossing now stand at to this, the £50 million contract for making Scotland a more attractive Toll and A82 Crianlarich Bypass with works more than 105m – just over half their the construction of the first section option for business, leisure and tourism. final height of 210m. Approximately of dualling between Kincraig and also now underway on the AWPR/B-T 10% of the cable stayed bridge deck Dalraddy has been put to tender. The new A82 Crianlarich Bypass and A9 Dualling. is also in place. opened to traffic on 23 December In March 2015, the first of our 2014 and work is continuing on the The FRC Contact and Education Centre A9 Dualling newsletters was A82 at Pulpit Rock where construction is the focal point for engagement and issued, keeping residents is scheduled for completion in 2015. learning with communities, schools, and local businesses informed colleges, universities and other of the progress of the project. Construction of the A96 Inveramsay organisations. Since opening, over Bridge commenced in December 2014.