A few highlights from this afternoon’s transport partnership Nestrans board meeting:

• Aberdeen Airport will take three to five years to return to pre-covid levels.

• A survey locally shows there’s positive public sentiment towards walking and cycling, as well as private car use but a 14% decrease in willingness to commute.

• 800 visits so far to the 2040 strategic transport plan consultation (https://www.nestrans2040.org.uk/).

• Edinburgh trains now running as far north as Montrose (originally Dundee) as the network deals with the tragedy at Carmont south of Stonehaven. Meanwhile a service is running between Aberdeen and Stonehaven, calling at Portlethen, providing an hourly service between 7am and 7pm with additional services during peak periods. Replacement bus services continue to be provided between Aberdeen and Dundee and intermediate stations.

• Aspirations to electrify rail services from the central belt to Aberdeen/Inverurie by 2035.

• Work continues to consider in more detail the specific feasibility and costs on improving local rail services. This includes reducing the journey time between Aberdeen and Edinburgh to 2 hrs 10 mins or better; between Aberdeen and Glasgow to 2 hrs 30 mins or better; enhancing commuter services into Aberdeen and Dundee including new stations (maybe Newtonhill?); and more freight paths. This work is led by Transport Scotland and Network Rail.

All the reports can be found here (and a recording of the meeting in due course): https://www.nestrans.org.uk/about-nestrans/board-meetings-2/2020-board-meetings/board-papers-16-09-2020/