A better connected, greener Scotland
Our railways, bus lines and ferry routes are the backbone of Scotland.
But for too long, too many communities across Scotland have been left isolated and disconnected due to poor transport planning and a lack of investment in reliable, sustainable services. Our rail network still bears the scars of Thatcher’s cuts, with abandoned stations and rail lines sitting unused across the country.
Privatisation has left rural communities vulnerable to bus operators hiking fares and withdrawing services, leaving communities without lifeline routes.
And for too long, our transport planning has centered around private cars – leaving greener, sustainable transport options underfunded and without proper investment.
We want to build a better connected Scotland – where all communities have access to affordable, accessible and reliable public transport; where we build cities and towns for people and planet; and where people can get where they need to go quickly and affordably.
The Scottish Greens will redirect funding from carbon-heavy transport industries into transformative green transport investment, making sure our ferries, trains, buses and roads are fit for the future.
Expanding Scotland's railways
- Invest in new stations, new rail routes and better accessibility for all, on an expanded and publicly owned rail network.
- Explore options to open new railway stations on the existing network, including in Newburgh, Tomatin, Halbeath and Hawick.
- Make the case to reopen new rail routes between:
- Dumfries to Stranrar
- Alloa to Dunfermline
- Tweedbank to Carlisle via Hawick
- Aberdeen to Peterhead and Fraserburgh
- Upgrade carriages and increase capacity on overcrowded lines, including:
- Cathcart Circle
- Fife Circle
- West Highland Line
- Milngavie Line
- Begin the process to deliver the Clyde Metro scheme in full.
- Bring more of Scotland’s railways into public ownership by establishing a nationalised Scottish Rail Freight Operator, and exploring opportunities for the Scottish Government to purchase its own trains, rather than relying on leasing from expensive private operators.
- Demand the full devolution of rail to Scotland from Westminster – including Network Rail.
Better buses for all
- Support the manufacturing of Scottish-built zero-emission buses with long-term funding that is targeted to publicly-run and community fleets.
- Create a minimum service guarantee for bus routes in rural areas to ensure no community is cut off from public transport.
- Reduce congestion in our towns and cities through removing barriers to local councils installing bus priority lanes, investing in bus priority infrastructure, and press for the devolution of roads taxation to Scotland.
Our ferries and islands
- We will explore the feasibility of bridges, tunnels and causeways across the sounds of Harris and Barra, and in the Northern Isles to improve connectivity for islanders.
- Bring all ferry ports running lifeline services into public ownership, building on the recent successful campaign to nationalise Ardrossan port.
- Reinstate the ferry route from Ardrossan to Campbeltown.
- Develop a funded long-term green fleet replacement strategy to ensure all ferry services throughout Scotland are reliable, efficient and zero carbon. We will ensure that trade unions are consulted at the design stage of new vessels for Scotland’s ferries.
- Reopen the Rosyth to Europe ferry route, and explore more sustainable transport links to Europe, including ferry links to the Nordics, and an integrated ticket between the Caledonian Sleeper and Eurostar.
Future-proofing our transport infrastructure
- Complete the full electrification of Scotland’s rail network to make trains greener and faster, including the Highland Main Line and routes connecting Inverness, Aberdeen and Dundee.
- Shift more freight from road to rail, reducing the number of HGVs on key routes such as the A9.
- Upgrade and future-proof trunk roads and rail infrastructure vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as the A83.
- Make EV charging cheaper and easier by changing planning regulations to make home EV charging easier kerbside and investing in municipal EV charging hubs with embedded solar generation.
- Press for the devolution of roads taxation to Scotland, raising funds to reinvest in a transport system fit for the future.
- Improve access across our public transport network by ensuring that all newly procured trains, buses, trams and other transport infrastructure are fully accessible, and allow for bike transport as well as wheelchair and buggy spaces.
