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Committee cautiously supports the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill

CEARL | 001/2006 | 15 September 2006

Plans to build a new railway station at Edinburgh Airport and to construct new rail links to connect it with the national rail network have been recommended to proceed through the Parliament.

The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL) Bill Committee announced today it has agreed, by a majority, to the general principles of the bill and recommended that it should proceed as a private bill. Read the committee report.

Convener of the committee, Scott Barrie MSP said:

"We are satisfied that the rail link could provide a beneficial service to the ever increasing number of passengers using Edinburgh Airport. It will go some way towards alleviating future congestion on the roads surrounding the airport. In turn this decongestion contributes to the very positive 'benefit to cost' ratio whereby a benefit of £2.16 is predicted for every £1 in costs.

"However, the committee does have concerns as to extent to which these benefits can be fully realised. We remain extremely concerned that a premium fares policy may be adopted by Transport Scotland which could unfairly penalise those travelling to the airport from outwith Edinburgh.

"The committee also remains frustrated that it has not been able to confirm in any detail what funding is in place to construct the EARL scheme."

As a result of these concerns, the committee agreed to seek further evidence from a range of organisations such as the promoter, the Minister for Transport, Transport Scotland, Edinburgh Airport Limited and Network Rail prior to reaching its final views on the EARL Bill.

In the report the committee:

• broadly agreed with the promoter that other benefits such as economic and tourism growth as well as assisting in social inclusion could be achieved through the increased connectivity EARL provides;

• also warned that unless the right decisions were taken in a number of areas outwith the bill such as electrification of the Central Scotland rail network, confirmation of the proposed operating timetable for EARL as well as the procurement of rolling stock, these benefits may not be realised.

Jamie McGrigor MSP dissented to paragraphs 144, 181, 182 and 288 and Christine Grahame MSP dissented to paragraphs 181, 182 and 288 of the report.

Background to the bill

Air passenger numbers at Edinburgh Airport are predicted to grow each year and are expected rise to between 20-26 million by 2030. EARL will connect the airport to 62 stations across Scotland , with the hope that it will attract travellers out of their cars on to the rail network.

The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill is being promoted by Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (tie Ltd) who are seeking statutory authority to construct a new station at Edinburgh Airport and to construct new railways to connect this new station into the national railway network.

At preliminary stage, the committee has three functions-

•  To consider and report on the general principles of the bill;

•  To consider and report on whether the bill should proceed as a private bill, that is to say:

•  Is the purpose of the bill to obtain for the promoter particular powers or benefits in excess of, or in conflict with, the general law?

•  Do the accompanying documents lodged with the bill satisfy the technical criteria that are set down in the Standing Orders and are they adequate to allow proper scrutiny of the bill?

•  To give preliminary consideration to the objections and reject any objection where the objector's interests are, in the opinion of the committee, not clearly adversely affected by the private bill.

The committee gave preliminary consideration to forty eight objections to the bill (one of which has subsequently been withdrawn). Six objections, or parts of objections, concerned the principle of the bill but were rejected by the committee. The committee agreed that the remaining objections should progress to consideration stage, where further evidence will be taken from both objectors and the promoter of the bill.

Background to private bills

Private bills are subject to different procedures than those set out for a public bill. Chapter 9A of standing orders and the Guidance on Private Bills set out the procedures in full. Private bills are subject to a three stage process: preliminary stage, consideration stage and final stage.

Should the Parliament agree to the general principles at preliminary stage, the bill will proceed to consideration stage. consideration stage is in two phases. The first phase involves evidence being taken from the promoter and objectors to the bill. The committee will then report with its decision on every outstanding objection to the bill. The second phase is purely legislative, dealing with amendments to the bill. Final stage involves possible further amendments, followed by a debate in the Parliament and a vote on whether to pass the bill in its final form.

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