23 July 2004
Scottish ministers are to gain control of the rail network north of the border in what has been described as the most significant devolution of powers since the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Transport Secretary Alistair Darling and Scottish Transport Minister Nicol Stephen announced that, as part of the UK rail review, the Scottish Executive will take full responsibility for specifying track and infrastructure in Scotland. The agreement will include the transfer of the Strategic Rail Authority's powers to manage and monitor the performance of ScotRail. The executive will have sole responsibility for securing future ScotRail franchises and it will have the power to take long-term, strategic decisions about future investment in Scottish services. It will also have the power to both fund and specify where those resources are targeted by Network Rail on track maintenance and investment in Scotland.
PFjul2004
