If there's to be high-speed rail linking Glasgow and Edinburgh, it doesn't look so good for the budgets necessary to upgrade rail links between the central belt and both Aberdeen and Inverness.

BBC: Making tracks and political points

The minister said that the Glasgow to Edinburgh high-speed route had the potential to boost rail capacity across the central belt, significantly reduce journey times and possibly lead to new stations being built.

BBC: Scotland politics

But then, would high speed rail really move growth out, or would it make the whole country into Greater London's commuter belt?

BBC: Is London good or bad for Scotland?