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
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.
20th May 2008 – COBRA Feature in Auchterarder Times The May edition of the Auchterarder Times carries an extensive article on the COBRA campaign.
View the full article in the Photo Gallery.
15th/16th May 2008 – Good Hearing for COBRA at Petitions Committee The Public Petitions Committee considered the bid to reopen Blackford station at their meeting on 13th May. Perth MSP Roseanna Cunningham spoke in favour of the campaign and praised COBRA's very powerful response to comments received from the Scottish Government, TACTRANS and Network Rail.
Councillor John Law and Richard Beith, both COBRA Committee members, were also in attendance and reflected that the Committee were very receptive to the campaign to the extent that the petition will be kept open pending consideration of further issues raised by the campaign.
View the full press articles in the Photo Gallery.
13th May 2008 – Public Petitions Committee The Public Petitions Committee will consider the replies from various consultees to the COBRA e-Petition along with COBRA's formal response to the consultees submissions. Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth constituency and a strong supporter of the campaign, will attend and speak on behalf of COBRA. More details on this soon......
27th April 2008 – COBRA Response to Public Petitions Committee Following receipt of replies from various consultees, the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee sought a formal response from COBRA that will be considered at the Committee meeting on 13th May 2008. The reply from COBRA was formally submitted on 21st April and can be viewed here or downloaded from the "About Us" page.
4th March 2008 – Car Stickers Now On Sale
Car stickers promoting the campaign are now available. Stickers cost £1 with all proceeds going to campaign funds. Stickers can be purchased from any committee member, at Blackford Post Office or by emailing COBRA at info@cobra-blackford.org.uk
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
The May edition of the Auchterarder Times carries an extensive article on the COBRA campaign.
Petitions Committee
