From STV Local – The future of our rail system matters

So we all know now that the long-anticipated independence referendum will be held in 2014.

It’s quite true that this will be one of the most important decisions we have taken together as a society, and understandably it’s been all over the media for weeks now.

But it’s not the only important decision set to be taken in 2014. I’d like to mention another, which is worth a share of our attention if we’re going to get it right.

First Group, who run most of our buses in Glasgow, have also been in charge of the Scotrail franchise since 2004 and are responsible for managing tens of millions of passenger journeys right across Scotland.

The franchise is up for renewal in 2014, and this is an opportunity not just to ask whether First should keep the contract, but also what kind of railway we want in Scotland and how we want it to change.

Glasgow’s really lucky to be at the heart of an extensive urban rail network; many other parts of the country lost their railways in earlier decades, when road-obsessed politicians decided that rail had had its day. How short-sighted that looks today.

But if we want a railway that meets the needs of the 21st century there will be difficult choices to make.

The Scottish Government wants to improve the Glasgow – Edinburgh service, electrifying the line and speeding up the journey.

That’s all great, but if it comes at the expense of local services it would be a huge mistake.

The consultation ahead of the 2014 franchise raises the prospect of cuts to local services to allow more intercity trains to run, and even suggests that stations within a mile of each other could close.

Scottish Ministers have been frantically playing down that prospect, and the familiar phrase “no current plans” has been heard in relation to station closures.

Right now though, we simply don’t know whether the Ashfield line, or stations like Ashfield, Barnhill, Duke Street, Gilshochill, Kelvindale, Kennishead, Maryhill, Mosspark and Nitshill will be protected.

Travel within a city is every bit as important as travel between cities, and the debate about 2014 should be about opening new stations, funding the Glasgow Crossrail scheme, smartcard tickets, integrating with bus services and keeping fares down by creating a not-for-profit rail company.

If that other big decision in 2014 ends up with a yes vote, we could even bring to railways back into public ownership, and run them for the public’s benefit instead of shareholders’ profits.

It might not be the highest profile issue planned for 2014, but it’s still worth making sure we get this one right.