Imagine zipping between Glasgow and Edinburgh in only 18 minutes.
In 2009, during Scotland’s first SNP-led government, there was a proposal for a revolutionary maglev (magnetic levitation) train system to link Edinburgh and Glasgow, capable of cutting travel time to just 18 minutes, with stops at Edinburgh Airport. The idea was that four maglev trains would run every hour in each direction, reaching speeds of around 300mph—far faster than the current 50-minute train ride by ScotRail. The system was estimated to cost between £2 billion and £2.7 billion but was anticipated to bring gross benefits of £4 billion per year. The plan was seen as an opportunity to improve transportation while promoting quieter, lower-emission travel.
Private firm UK Ultraspeed proposed the maglev system, and discussions began in earnest when the SNP took power in 2007. Cabinet papers reveal that Transport Scotland conducted a feasibility study, evaluating whether the maglev system could be integrated into Scotland’s transportation infrastructure. The Scottish Government kept the project highly confidential, only discussing it at the highest levels. In March 2009, ministers considered the proposal, acknowledging its technological feasibility and the potential to finance it through an "availability payment" over 30 years. However, concerns about financial provision and unresolved issues surrounding land acquisition and integration with other networks halted progress. Ultimately, the cabinet decided not to allocate public funds for the project.
The maglev proposal had its roots in earlier transportation plans, including the HS1 project between London and the Channel Tunnel, and it gained attention from figures such as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Scottish Labour finance minister Tom McCabe. But by 2009, enthusiasm for the maglev had waned, with UK Government officials dismissing it in favor of more conventional projects like HS2.
Economic analyses suggested significant benefits, estimating £3 billion in transport efficiency and £1 billion in broader economic gains, which could have transformed Scotland’s economy. However, the feasibility study highlighted the challenge of accommodating terminuses in both cities and the impact on existing rail services, including competition with ScotRail and Edinburgh's tram system. The study also noted that the maglev would create tensions with existing transport operators, such as First Group and Network Rail, due to the potential loss in revenue and the competition it would create.
Despite its ambitious potential, the maglev project faced significant challenges. Similar systems, like the Shanghai maglev, which had been operational since 2004, offered impressive speeds but struggled to sustain service long-term. The feasibility study pointed out the need for a robust transport network to support central Scotland’s role as a global economic hub, but financial and political hurdles led to the abandonment of the maglev proposal.
In parallel, the Scottish Government canceled other major projects, such as the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, citing affordability issues. This move came just months after the maglev proposal was discussed, highlighting the financial constraints that ultimately led to the shelving of the superfast Edinburgh-Glasgow maglev system. The cancellation of these ambitious projects underscored the challenges the government faced in balancing infrastructure development with budgetary constraints.
Summary of a report from
https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politic ... -never-was Accessed 2025-01-01
