The Friends of the Far North Line
Cairdean Na Loine Tuath
the campaign group for rail north of
Inverness - lobbying for improved services for the local user, tourist and freight
operator
Another in-depth report which has just come to our notice was actually published over a year ago in June 2024.
Wheels of Change: Promoting Fair and Green Transport in Rural Scotland, is published by IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research), an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society.
The report, written by Dr Maya Singer Hobbs and Stephen Frost, research fellows at IPPR, received funding from Sustrans and Transport Scotland.
At the time of publication, Scottish Government policy was to achieve a 20%% reduction in car kms (car use) by 2030. The government has now admitted that this is unachievable, identifying only a 3.6%% reduction so far, from pre-Covid levels, and is currently in the process of setting new targets.
The report has little about rail, which is hardly surprising when its subject is rural Scotland, most of whose railways were closed in the 1960s, and before, because they weren't profitable - a laughable concept in the first place. It mentions that respondents still feel aggrieved at having had their railway removed by the Beeching Cuts.
However, the points made in the report resonate strongly with our ambition to improve provision of rail services in the Highlands to the point where people feel able to switch voluntarily and trust rail for many of their essential journeys. It is well worth reading this short document right through, as it has some startling observations about how difficult transport can be in rural areas.
The inescapable conclusion is that those within reach of the Far North Line are fortunate, yet it could be so much better with some serious investment.
A particularly interesting graphic appears on page 9 of the report. The subject of 'decarbonising' the railways is often under discussion, but a quick look at this graphic shows that rail's contribution to harmful emissions is almost microscopic compared with that of road traffic. Perhaps a more relaxed view of the need for interim solutions prior to electrification, especially of the main intercity routes, might be sensible.
Transport in rural Scotland is not working for the people living there, particularly those on low incomes. Despite various strategies, road maps and reports, people living in rural Scotland do not feel their transport needs have been considered. At best, many feel the system has not got worse. But for others, declining bus provision and the cost of living crisis has had a significant negative impact on their experience of getting around.
The Scottish government has committed to a 20 per cent reduction in car miles by 2030 (from a 2019 baseline). This is a climate-driven commitment, but it provides an opportunity to reconsider the transport system to make sure it works for everyone. Good quality transport systems mean that people have access to employment, education and other public services. It plays a key role in preventing isolation and loneliness and is important for local economic activity. However, the Scottish government is off track to meet its net zero commitments. Car use in Scotland has continued to grow, while bus provision and patronage have fallen.
This work drew on in-depth interviews and a workshop with members of the public living in rural Scotland on low incomes to understand what their experience of the transport system is like. Through this process a series of themes were identified. Using these and the workshop, a set of principles to guide transport policymaking in Scotland were identified.
Using the principles as a starting point and building on other findings throughout the research, there are three overarching recommendations to fairly address rural transport emissions and reduce car kilometres: