North-east MSP Liam Kerr has described the choice to delay a decision on north-east rail upgrades yet again as shambolic.
A decision on which areas of the north-east will benefit from a £200million fund to improve rail links between Aberdeen and the Central Belt was due to be made 14 years on from the original pledge.
Liam also said the SNP’s promise to improve the north-east’s rail infrastructure, first announced in 2008, was “plucked out of thin air.”
In a response to Mr Kerr last year, Kate Forbes said the improvement options would be finalised by the start of this year.
But after Mr Kerr demanded answers as to why this still hasn’t been announced, transport secretary Jenny Gilruth confirmed the selection had been delayed and now won’t be made until the end of 2022.
The Scottish Government pledged the money for improvements such as track dualling to reduce journey times between Aberdeen and Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2008.
It was subsequently re-announced in 2016 as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, with plans in place to have the works completed by 2026.