OPINION: Rail cash must be spent in right place

THE investment announced by Keith Brown for Scotland's railways is necessary as the country's infrastructure cannot be allowed to stand still.

While the overall investment is to be welcomed it must be ensured that services are protected and improved not only on the major inter city and flagship routes but service in communities across Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

Mr Brown has already listened to the voice of people in the city who were outraged that stations in the city could be closed to save a paltry sum of cash.

The local rail network in the greater Glasgow area is the biggest outside London and is an essential part of the country's infrastructure and needs continued investment to ensure it is not only maintained but improved.

Mr Brown said when he ruled out closures he was looking at new stations instead and where they should be.

The plans for community Rail Partnerships will provide an ideal forum for local people to make their views known and have direct input to the decision making process.

This is a great opportunity for people who use the services to have a real say in how they are delivered and it must be ensured these partnerships have power and influence and are not merely talking shops to be ignored later.