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Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson

Herald Scotland

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Alan Simpson: Electrification of Scots rail network is just another empty promise LAST week was a momentous one for those of us who live along the busy commuter railway line between Glasgow and East Kilbride.

Alan Simpson: Electrification of Scots rail network is just another empty promise LAST week was a momentous one for those of us who live along the busy commuter railway line between Glasgow and East Kilbride.

LAST week was a momentous one for those of us who live along the busy commuter railway line between Glasgow and East Kilbride. Due to Friday's red...

latest 4

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Transport Scotland defies physics with A9 dualling latest ACCORDING the dictionary definition, accelerate means to begin to move more quickly, to move faster or to gain speed.

Alan Simpson: Transport Scotland defies physics with A9 dualling latest ACCORDING the dictionary definition, accelerate means to begin to move more quickly, to move faster or to gain speed.

ACCORDING the dictionary definition, accelerate means to begin to move more quickly, to move faster or to gain speed. It’s a fairly simple...

21.01.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Skills shortage crisis should shame ministers into action IT was not that long ago that it seemed you could walk just a few yards in Scotland and you would bump into a skilled worker. Pupils would literally walk out of school on a Friday and be working in places such as shipyards on the Monday, where they would start an apprenticeship scheme.

Alan Simpson: Skills shortage crisis should shame ministers into action IT was not that long ago that it seemed you could walk just a few yards in Scotland and you would bump into a skilled worker. Pupils would literally walk out of school on a Friday and be working in places such as shipyards on the Monday, where they would start an apprenticeship scheme.

IT was not that long ago that it seemed you could walk just a few yards in Scotland and you would bump into a skilled worker. Pupils would literally...

12.01.2025 2

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Watch out - ministers are about to send fridge police into your home IT is that time of year when most of us eat too much, drink about the same and buy so much food you could sink a battleship with it.

IT is that time of year when most of us eat too much, drink about the same and buy so much food you could sink a battleship with it. Most of us are...

29.12.2024 1

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: CalMac is not perfect but privatisation won’t make service better ANYONE who has ever had the good fortune to consume a mac and cheese on a CalMac ferry can attest to how good they are, even in a Force 9 mid-Minch.

ANYONE who has ever had the good fortune to consume a mac and cheese on a CalMac ferry can attest to how good they are, even in a Force 9...

23.12.2024 4

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Archaeological dig contract for A9 is another insult to Highlands £2m archaeological dig contract on A9 is another insult to Highlands

THE dualling of the A9 trunk road, or the lack of it, appears to have been a topic of some discussion since time began. Before even that some would...

15.12.2024 30

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Scotrail can show Starmer that nationalisation isn't always best I recently listened to an archive clip on the radio that consisted primarily of people whingeing about the railways.

I recently listened to an archive clip on the radio that consisted primarily of people whingeing about the railways. Amongst the biggest complaints...

08.12.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Is the human cost of Net Zero drive really worth it? VAUXHALL motors was set up by Scots marine engineer Alexander Wilson in 1857 and went on to become one of the biggest car manufacturers in the UK.

VAUXHALL motors was set up by Scots marine engineer Alexander Wilson in 1857 and went on to become one of the biggest car manufacturers in the UK....

01.12.2024 3

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: One Day plaque row shows problem with conservation over evolution TO say that Edinburgh is a beautiful city would probably be viewed as an understatement.

TO say that Edinburgh is a beautiful city would probably be viewed as an understatement. With the elegant Georgian terraces along orderly streets...

24.11.2024 4

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: How is CalMac supposed to run a ferry service without any ships THERE are estimated to be more than 790 islands in Scotland, with 93 of them inhabited.

THERE are estimated to be more than 790 islands in Scotland, with 93 of them inhabited. Why the number is estimated is anyone’s guess as it should...

16.11.2024 5

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: The Sabbath isn't for everyone so Stornoway Tesco should open SEVERAL years ago, I had the good fortune to spend a Sabbath on the island of Harris during an extended trip to the Outer Hebrides.

SEVERAL years ago, I had the good fortune to spend a Sabbath on the island of Harris during an extended trip to the Outer Hebrides. Very pleasant...

09.11.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: We're going to steal a bigger boat - a solution for ferry fiasco MUCH has been said about Scotland’s ongoing ferry fiasco which has left the network with a large number of passengers but hardly any ships.

MUCH has been said about Scotland’s ongoing ferry fiasco which has left the network with a large number of passengers but hardly any ships. It...

02.11.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Tourist tax should benefit visitors and not just plug budget gaps

GEORGE Harrison was universally known as the quiet Beatle, although he could throw a good strop with the best of them. His song-writing talents...

12.10.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: ScotRail fares pilot scheme farce is peak incompetence

According to the acclaimed American writer Mark Twain, there are three types of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics. It is a phrase which...

05.10.2024 1

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: ​ Everybody loves going green - until it lands in their fridge DRIVING north up the A90 towards Aberdeen it is impossible to avoid the sight of posters urging against the building of large pylons across the area.

DRIVING north up the A90 towards Aberdeen it is impossible to avoid the sight of posters urging against the building of large pylons across the...

28.09.2024 1

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Tesco Clubcard scheme is like inviting Jason Leitch to do your shopping IMAGINE, if you will, being forced to do your weekly supermarket shop accompanied by Jason Leitch and other Scottish government health officials.

IMAGINE, if you will, being forced to do your weekly supermarket shop accompanied by Jason Leitch and other Scottish government health officials....

21.09.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Will Kate Forbes sort out the blight on the Highlands of A82? FORT William is a place with a setting that is almost unparalleled anywhere on the planet.

FORT William is a place with a setting that is almost unparalleled anywhere on the planet. Dominated by Ben Nevis, and sitting on the banks of Loch...

14.09.2024 1

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Ignore the haters - travelling the NC500 is simply glorious I RECENTLY had the good fortune to partake in a Highland road trip that took in part of the NC500.

I RECENTLY had the good fortune to partake in a Highland road trip that took in part of the NC500. We didn’t do it all and it was more like the...

07.09.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Andy Murray deserves a fitting legacy - just not one with luxury houses IT is fair to say that Andy Murray had millions of people off their seats over the past two decades or so as we all suffered along with him during his rise to the peak of the tennis world.

IT is fair to say that Andy Murray had millions of people off their seats over the past two decades or so as we all suffered along with him during...

31.08.2024 3

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Raw-dogging social media craze is just plane stupid Anyone who has ever travelled on a long-haul flight know they are probably the most boring things ever invented even with the myriad of in-flight entertainment packages on offer

ANYONE who has ever travelled on a long-haul flight know they are probably the most boring things ever invented even with the myriad of in-flight...

17.08.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Extra cash is always found when the FM's bin needs emptied IT’s that time of year when clowns, jugglers, comedians, stiltwalkers and an assortment of all sorts of halfwits take to the streets for a bit of harmless fun.

IT’s that time of year when clowns, jugglers, comedians, stilt walkers and an assortment of all sorts of halfwits take to the streets for a bit...

10.08.2024 7

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Greens four day week is a great idea - if your job is pointless IMAGINE a scenario in the future where everyone gets paid a full-time wage to do absolutely no work at all.

IMAGINE a scenario in the future where everyone gets paid a full-time wage to do absolutely no work at all. It sounds great, but would probably get...

03.08.2024 1

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: Kate Forbes has hit the ground running on CalMac and A9 IT is fair to say that Scotland’s ferry network has been a bit of a mixed bag in recent years, with the service as reliable as a calm day on the Minch.

IT is fair to say that Scotland’s ferry network has been a bit of a mixed bag in recent years, with the service as reliable as a calm day on the...

27.07.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson: It's time for the Fat Controller to take over shambolic Scotrail THERE’’S an advert doing the rounds at the moment for ScotRail which claims that your ticket goes much further than you think.

THERE’’S an advert doing the rounds at the moment for ScotRail which claims that your ticket goes much further than you think. How much further...

20.07.2024 3

Herald Scotland

Alan Simpson