Rail journey times between Scotland’s two biggest cities are to be cut by ten minutes through electrification of the line.

The Scottish Government set out the plans, which represent a scaling-down from original plans thanks to a budget cut.

The original £1bn plans would have seen journey times cut to 35 minutes, and an extra two trains an hour between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

But with the service overhaul budget cut to £650m, trains between the cities will remain at four an hour and the journey time will only be cut to 40 minutes.

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Transport minister Keith Brown said further electrification of the line to Stirling and Alloa could be "delivered in future phases".

The plans will see longer carriages, a drop in noise and carbon emissions, and increased capacity for passengers between a revamped Glasgow Queen Street hub and an Edinburgh station with airport links.

Carriages will have wi-fi connectivity.

Mr Brown said: "These enhancements will be a massive boost for both cities, and all the communities which surround them, as well as benefiting Scotland’s economy as a whole through additional jobs and investment."

The electrification will be delivered in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

But Colin Howden of Transform Scotland said: "What the government is actually announcing today is cuts to the Scotland's flagship rail project."

And the Chambers of Commerce said the decision not to boost hourly rail services was "disappointing".

(NE)