Welcome to COBRA, the Campaign to Open Blackford Railway-station Again!
COBRA was formed in 2002 to promote and lobby for the reopening of the railway station at Blackford in Perthshire.
Since 2002, the campaign has attracted strong support from communities across the Strathearn and Strathallan area, from businesses, local authorities, transport bodies and politicians at local, regional and national levels.
Reopening the station will provide widespread economic, environmental and social benefits, forming an integral part of the future regional transport strategy.
Blackford is strategically situated adjacent to the A9 between Stirling and Perth. With an ever increasing focus on establishing socially inclusive, environmentally sustainable, integrated transport schemes, the reopening of Blackford station presents a major opportunity to residents, businesses and visitors across a wide area of central Scotland.
The campaign proposes that Blackford would be a safe, user-friendly and well-located station accessible to all as part of an integrated transport system, supporting the Scottish Government's aspiration for "a modal shift from car to sustainable transport".
Support
“As the MP for Blackford I am strongly committed to seeing the return of rail passenger services to the area. There are significant advantages to both the population and the local economy. We must all work together to ensure that we reap those benefits. COBRA have done a terrific job in promoting the aims and objectives of COBRA and I back their efforts 100%. I look forward to continuing our good relationship as we move towards securing the re-opening of Blackford station. Keep up the good work COBRA and congratulations on the new website!!”
Gordon Banks, MP
“The substantial development taking place in and around Blackford and its position within commuting distance of Perth, Dundee, Stirling, Edinburgh and Glasgow, indicate that it would be socially, economically and environmentally desirable to provide this facility.”
John Purvis MEP
“There is a growing demand from commuters along the A9 between Perth and Dunblane for a better, more accessible service to cater for the current and future expected growth of people living in the area plus tourist, retail and Highland Spring initiatives. The area around Blackford is designated to be the location of the largest tourist related development in Scotland with the potential of £400 million investment."
Roseanna Cunningham, MSP
"TACTRAN will support and promote rail infrastructure enhancements proposed under TERS (Tay Estuary Rail Study), including…. possible new stations at locations such as Blackford…..”
TACTRAN Regional Transport Strategy 2007
Latest News
6th February 2009 – Minutes of 2009 AGM Published
The minutes of the well attended 2009 AGM are now available here.
30th January 2009 – Strathearn Herald covers COBRA AGM The Strathearn Herald today reports on the visit of the Scottish Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson, to COBRA's recent public meeting and AGM. Further details can be viewed here.
21st January 2009 – The Courier covers COBRA AGM The Courier today reports on the visit of the Scottish Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson, to COBRA's recent public meeting and AGM. Further details can be viewed here.
19th January 2009 – COBRA Public Meeting and AGM The next public meeting of COBRA will be held on 19th January 2009 at 7.30pm in Highland Spring. The meeting will also include the AGM and election of officials for the next year. Please come along to find out about progress and to get involved with the campaign.
13th January 2009 – COBRA in the Perthshire Advertiser The Perthshire Advertiser today highlights Ian Hislop's support for the campaign. Further details can be viewed here.
The Courier today carries an article highlighting the support of Ian Hislop to the COBRA campaign and reaffirms the strong cross-party political support to reopen the station. Further details can be found at http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/12/22/newsstory12415982t0.asp.
6th November 2008 – Roll On In Donates over £100 to COBRA Roll On In, a very popular sandwich and take away food shop in Blackford has kindly donated £105 collected from staff and customers to the COBRA campaign. Neil Gaunt, Chair of COBRA, expressed his thanks to Freda Robertson, proprietor of the Roll On In, and said the donation would help greatly with the campaign's promotional and lobbying work.
28th October 2008 – Ian Hislop adds his support to the Campaign! Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye and regular on Have I Got News for You, recently presented a BBC4 Programme "Off the Rails" that looked into the 1963 Beeching closures.
Ian has now added his support to the COBRA campaign, saying "I'm delighted to offer my support to the Campaign to Open Blackford Railway-station Again. Good luck to COBRA."
Ian "Off the Rails" Hislop
30th September 2008 – COBRA makes the news again! The Herald today carries a letter from COBRA highlighting the advantages of re-opening rural stations. The letter can be viewed here or downloaded from the "Support" page.
Roseanna Cunningham, MSP, reiterated her support for the COBRA campaign in a news item in the Perthshire Advertiser on 26th September on planned fast train services between Perth and Edinburgh. The article can be viewed here or downloaded from the "Support" page.
29th September 2008 – Minutes of Public Meeting on 22nd September 2008 The minutes of the well attended and informative COBRA Public Meeting held on 22nd September can be read here or downloaded from the "About Us" page. In addition, a copy of the presentation given by Eric Guthrie, Partnership Director, TACTRAN can be viewed here or downloaded from the Support" page.
22nd September 2008 – COBRA secures new Patron COBRA is pleased to announce that Desmond Carrington, the renowned BBC Radio 2 presenter, has agreed to become a patron of COBRA.
Desmond is a strong supporter of the campaign aims and COBRA welcomes the added profile that Desmond's support will bring.
22nd September 2008 – Public Meeting The next public meeting for COBRA will be held on Monday 22nd September 2008 at 7.30pm in Highland Spring. The meeting will be attended by Eric Guthrie, Director of Tayside and Central Scotland Transport partnership (TACTRAN) who will give an update on progress, along with various political representatives.
9th June 2008 – Minutes of Committee Meeting 2nd June 2008 The minutes of the COBRA Committee meeting held on 2nd June have now been published and can be read here or downloaded from the "About Us" page.
21st May 2008 – Official Report from Public Petitions Committee The Committee agreed to schedule further consideration of the petition to reopen Blackford station once the STAG2 Appraisal on the Tay Estuary Rail Study has been completed and the Strategic Transports Project Review being undertaken by Transport Scotland has been completed. It also agreed to seek a response from Scotrail on various issues raised in the petition.
Spring 2008 – STAG2 Appraisal TACTRAN will appoint consultants to undertake a detailed options appraisal of the Perth/Dundee to Glasgow/Edinburgh rail routes using the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (part 2) methodology. For more information on this process see the guidance at http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/defaultpage1221cde0.aspx?pageID=255
For more information or to contact COBRA, please email info@cobra-blackford.org.uk
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