Issue - meetings

“Following decades of campaigning for electrification of the rail line to the North East and the understandable financial difficulties, Aberdeen City Council calls upon the Scottish Government, Abellio, Transport Scotland and any other interested party to investigate, as a matter of urgency whilst EU funding is still available, to replace existing rolling stock with environmentally friendly hydrogen trains.

Subject to Council agreement with the above, that the Chief Executive write to local authorities on the route to gain their support.”

to adopt the Notice of Motion.

The Committee had before it a Notice of Motion by Councillor Reynolds in the following terms:-

            Following decades of campaigning for electrification of the rail line to the North East and the understandable financial difficulties, Aberdeen City Council calls upon the Scottish Government, Abellio, Transport Scotland and any other interested party to investigate, as a matter of urgency whilst EU funding is still available, to replace existing rolling stock with environmentally friendly hydrogen trains.

Subject to Council agreement with the above, that the Chief Executive write to local authorities on the route to gain their support.

In terms of Standing Order 12.14, Councillor Reynolds spoke in support of his motion and explained the rationale behind his request. Councillor Reynolds was seconded by Councillor Boulton.

Councillor Nicoll, seconded by Councillor Catriona Mackenzie moved as an amendment:-

            That the Committee:-

(1)          agree that the EU has been an invaluable source of funding for Aberdeen City Council and, through partnership with bus operators and the Scottish Government, has helped enable our local authority to pursue the deployment of hydrogen buses and associated infrastructure in Aberdeen;

(2)          understand that there are substantial practical and financial challenges associated with the electrification of the rail line from the North East;

(3)          nevertheless, agree that, where viable, every effort should be made to electrify the existing rail network;

(4)          note that alternative environmentally friendly energy sources do also exist, including hybrid and hydrogen trains, and therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Government, Network Rail, Abellio and Transport Scotland to express our view that every attempt should immediately be made by these agencies to apply for EU funding sources which would facilitate implementing environmentally friendly rail travel, and related infrastructure, to serve the North East; and

(5)          further instruct the Chief Executive to write to the UK Government to express our view that should any funding application not be agreed prior to the UK leaving the EU, that the UK Government must commit to replace the funding source.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – The Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Boulton, Donnelly and Laing; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Flynn, Catriona Mackenzie, Nicoll and Yuill.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.