Helps Deliver Inclusive Economic Growth

There are three outcomes under the Helps Deliver Inclusive Economic Growth priority:

  • Will get people and goods where they need to get to;
  • Will be reliable, efficient and high quality; and,
  • Will use beneficial innovation

Over the fourth Delivery Plan period:

  • In 2025-26, we will invest £1.1 billion in ensuring our motorway and trunk road network is safe, resilient and efficient, and over £1.5 billion in rail.
  • We will remain dedicated to the safe operation and maintenance of Scotland's trunk road and bridge network, using established and robust asset management and environmental principles, allowing it to contribute to Scotland's sustainable economic growth.
  • We will support the delivery of value-for-money, sustainable and innovative infrastructure and services, through a strategic and systematic approach to procurement.
  • As always, we will plan for and respond to resilience challenges and planned major events, as they affect Scotland's strategic transport network.
  • We will keep supporting delivery of publicly-funded ferry services; we will progress the development of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service 3 (CHFS3) Contract for commencement on 1 October 2025, and we will continue working with the councils, though the established ferry Task Forces to support their preparation of robust business cases.
  • We will welcome further deliveries and deployments of the six new major ferries over the course of 2025 to provide services for Arran, Islay and the Little Minch, and work with CMAL as they progress the procurement of seven new electric ferries through Phase 1 of the Small Vessels Replacement Programme, with a view to contract award in March 2025.
  • We will conclude the ongoing business case review work for Ardrossan Harbour, and look to progress a robust and deliverable long-term solution for Arran’s mainland port provision.
  • We will publish final versions of the two Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) papers – the ICP Strategic Approach and the Vessels and Ports Plan.
  • We will support sponsor bodies, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), David MacBrayne Ltd (DML) and Scottish Canals, to ensure all necessary action is taken to allow each Board to deliver on Scottish Ministers objectives, including financial stewardship and governance oversight of each individual body.
  • We will remain committed to supporting Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) to maintain operations at 11 airports, ensure the continuation of the Glasgow to Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra air services, support the continuation of the Dundee to London and Wick to Aberdeen air services, and ensure the continuation of the Air Discount Scheme, which we will review.
  • We will help grow Scotland’s international aviation connectivity, while not returning to previous levels of emissions, by implementing the relevant actions in our new Aviation Statement.
  • We will publish an updated Road Asset Management Plan (RAMP) for Scottish Trunk Roads, which sets out how Scotland's trunk road network is maintained strategically and efficiently, in order to protect our assets and ensure maximum value for money from our road maintenance activities.
  • We will continue to sponsor the Scottish Road Works Commissioner (SRWC), including provision of the direct financial support required for SRWC via Grant-in-aid, to bring about sustained improvements in the planning, coordination and quality of road works throughout Scotland.
  • We will progress dualling the A9: commencing construction of the Tomatin to Moy contract; continuing procurement for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project; commencing procurement for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie project; progressing design and development work for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing project; and undertaking work to inform further decision-making on the use of Mutual Investment Model contracts. The completed works will improve access to and from Highland communities, boost road safety, journey times and reliability, and generate economic growth.
  • We will take forward the final stage of the process for acquisition of land required for the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass), and progress work to determine the most suitable procurement option.
  • The Scottish Government will use the feedback from the public consultation on the A96 Corridor Review and the evidence-led transport appraisal that supports the Review to make a final decision on how best to take forward improvements along the corridor.
  • We will take forward the final stage of the process for acquisition of land required for the A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton, and progress work to determine the most suitable procurement option.
  • We will continue construction of future phases of medium-term works for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and publish the draft Orders for the long-term solution.
  • We will progress the ongoing temporary propping work on the M8 Woodside Viaduct, as we look to develop a permanent intervention.
  • We will remain committed to managing, maintaining and developing the Traffic Scotland Service, and the provision of accurate and relevant traffic and travel information to customers, through roadside display equipment, variable message signs, and web services, contributing to the safe, efficient and resilient operation of the trunk road and motorway network.
  • Through ScotRail, we will launch a procurement exercise for replacement of ScotRail’s fleet of intercity trains.
  • We will advance the Scotrail fleet replacement programme through the further development of specifications for life expiring rolling stock on rural and suburban routes.
  • We will upgrade and reconfigure rail power supplies to support existing and future electrification of our railway – with a further four electrical power ‘feeder stations’ to enter service by 2027.
  • We will do this alongside striving to ensure delivery of high performing and efficient rail passenger services, through robust governance, clear accountability, and strategic alignment of the Scottish Ministers' priorities with rail delivery partners. This includes support on pay policy for ScotRail and Caledonian sleeper, and other industrial relations matters.
  • We will sponsor, work with and monitor the activities of Scottish Rail Holdings, as it works to enable Scotland to have the best possible passenger rail services.
  • We will continue to provide Regional Transport Partnership finance sponsorship and budget monitoring, and provide funding to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) for their Subway Modernisation Programme.
  • We will keep providing technical assurance to SPT, as they lead the Case for Investment for Clyde Metro. This key stage of the development process, which will inform decisions around network selection, phasing and implementation is expected to be complete by early-2027.
  • We will remain dedicated to supporting the development of the skills and expertise that organisations require to make the transition to zero emission forms of transport, and to exploit the economic and commercial opportunities for companies in Scotland that the transition presents. We will set out further detail within the draft Transport Just Transition Plan.
  • We will engage with Distribution Network Operators to share the most up-to-date modelling and projections we have on how Scotland’s electricity networks will need to change to support road transport decarbonisation.
  • We will continue to work with the UK Government, as they develop regulations and implementation for the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles in the UK.