Sleeper trains from Tayside and Fife to London were spared the axe yesterday after the Scottish Government agreed a £100 million deal.
Transport Minister Keith Brown confirmed the SNP administration will match a £50 million offer from Chancellor George Osborne to fund new carriages for the iconic Caledonian Sleeper.
The decision comes amid a controversial consultation on the future of train services in Scotland, including suggestions the sleeper could be scrapped.
The Caledonian Sleeper is operated by First ScotRail and comprises services connecting Inverness, Aberdeen and Fort William to London.
The Aberdeen connection includes stops in Stonehaven, Montrose, Arbroath, Carnoustie, Dundee, Leuchars and Kirkcaldy, while the Inverness service calls at Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Perth.
Mr Brown said: ”I am delighted to now confirm that we have submitted proposals to the Treasury that will see us invest, as a minimum, £50 million to ensure that the Caledonian sleepers are enhanced to offer better facilities and a more responsive service to passenger needs.
”I now await the decision of the Treasury on whether it will stick to its promise and make the funding available to maximise the improvements to the service.
”That ethos of offering the best possible experience for passengers is at the heart of our current Rail 2014 consultation, which gives passengers the opportunity to have their say on how our trains operate beyond the current franchise which ends in 2014.
”For this reason, I would urge everyone with an interest in Scotland’s railways to participate in the consultation and play their part in shaping the future of our rail services.”
Chancellor George Osborne made the initial £50 million offer as part of his Autumn Statement last month.
The Caledonian Sleeper service provides two services each night, except Saturdays, between Scotland and London. It costs about £21 million a year to run, excluding the track access costs.
The Transport Scotland consultation document states: ”Overall we consider that there is the potential to improve the longer-term financial performance across all the sleeper service routes, through investment in services and rolling stock.
”We are considering a number of options for the future provision of sleeper services; for instance, removing or increasing financial support, and reducing the provision, either through removing the Highland or Lowland service, or by running the Lowland services to and from Edinburgh only.”
Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision, which will ensure the future of the service.
”I’m glad to see that the Scottish Government are willing to match the funding and priority which the UK Government has given to cross-border services, following the £50 million investment announced in the Autumn Statement,” he said.
”This shows that Scotland is stronger when its two governments work together within the United Kingdom.”
Labour’s infrastructure spokesman Richard Baker said: ”I am pleased that the Scottish Government has seen sense and responded positively to Scottish Labour’s campaign to save the sleeper, which so many Scots depend on.”
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson also welcomed the deal.
”I am pleased that Transport Scotland has stepped up to the mark on this issue and followed George Osborne’s lead to invest in this hugely important service,” she said.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie added: ”This is a good result for the communities served by the sleeper service.”