High-speed trains could create Central Belt ‘mega region’

Trains that can go from Glasgow to Edinburgh in under 30 minutes and on to London in two hours could boost the Central Belt as a world-leading “mega region”, according to the Scottish transport minister.

Keith Brown has called on the UK Government to accelerate work to bring high-speed rail to Scotland, and is developing a business case for a fast line between Scotland’s two largest cities.

Speaking ahead of his appearance at a rail industry conference, Mr Brown said: “Professor Richard Florida, renowned as one of the world’s top 10 influential thinkers, sees Scotland’s Central Belt as having the potential to be one of the world’s 40 economic ‘mega regions’.

“It is only logical that the high-speed rail network connects with this region to capitalise on its potential.

“Scotland’s economic output is already higher than any area of Britain outside of London and the South East, it simply makes sense to extend the high speed network further north, the sooner the better.

“By encouraging further income generation, skills, universities and creativity, we can strengthen the region as one of the great economic hubs of the UK and the world.”