View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
November 26, 2010

Inverness Courier helps save direct London rail service

By Press Gazette

A campaign by The Inverness Courier to save the Highland Chieftain direct rail service between Inverness and London has been successful.

Unveiling the Government’s plans for rail investment yesterday, transport secretary Philip Hammond revealed the option of forcing passengers to change trains in Edinburgh had been ruled out.

The Courier launched its Save the Chieftain campaign in September after a study by the former Audit Commission chairman Sir Andrew Foster suggested that forcing passengers change trains in Edinburgh could save the government tens of millions of pounds.

Scotland’s transport minister Stewart Stevenson was the first person to sign the paper’s petition, describing the direct link as “absolutely vital” and adding that The Inverness Courier had made a compelling case for its retention.

Local businesspeople and politicians from all parties lent their backing to the campaign, including Inverness MP and chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander.

Robert Taylor, Inverness Courier editor, said: “We were surprised how the issue touched a nerve not just with business leaders, who feared for the signal such a move would send to customers and potential investors, but also ordinary travellers.

“It has been an intense few months pulling everything together, particularly for our chief reporter Val Sweeney, but it is clear the paper’s efforts have made a real difference.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network