New station at Oudenarde may bring benefits
Councillor supports feasibility study
Developing a new railway station at Oudenarde, could bring lots of benefits to the community, according to one councillor.
Cllr Henry Anderson, who represents the Almond and Earn area at Perth and Kinross Council, says plans to look at the feasibility of opening a new Oudenarde station would be very welcome.
This comes after Tactran, the organisation campaigning for the move, received support from the Local Rail Development Fund.
The area has been without connection to a railway line for a number of years, after the nearby Bridge of Earn Railway Station was derailed in the 1960s.
Cllr Henry Anderson said: “A railway station would be a great addition to Oudenarde, which I will welcome.
“I am very much supportive of it, and I would imagine because of Oudenarde’s proximity to the A90 and the ring of connections down the A90 to Dundee and up to the top of the A9, its ideal to have a rail stop here.
“Many people living here have issues with driving their vehicles into the centre of Perth, but if this goes ahead people could get the train - I could see that in the future being a great idea.
“I could also see people, once they develop the Western Edge in Perth, taking their cars to Oudenarde to catch the train to Edinburgh instead of going to Perth Railway Station, because it is hard to park there.
“This is very positive and we will just have to see how the study goes, but I hope it is looked on positively.
“It will bring a lot of benefits to the community, so very supportive of it.”
A total of £2 million was set aside in this year’s Scottish Government to help look at the viability of re-opening
Cllr Henry Anderson and building new lines and stations across Scotland.
Elsewhere in the region, Newburgh Train Station received £82,000 towards their study, which will look at the steps needed to re-open the station, and look to create a business case for improving public transport in the area.
Nigel Mullan from the campaign group said: “This is great news for Newburgh and a big help in addressing the transport issues long holding the town back.
“It also allows the community a seat at the table to continue shaping the case for change and how to improve the poor links it has with Fife and the rest of Scotland.
“Along with looking at bus services and how to wean folk away from a heavy reliance on cars, high on the list is re-establishing a rail service for Newburgh.
“Better and more streamlined transport connectivity will make a big difference to people’s lives in the
A railway station could bring huge benefits to Oudenarde and Bridge of Earn modern economy of the 21 century.”
The fund was made available after campaigning by the Scottish Green Party.
Mark Ruskell, environment spokesperson for the Greens, and MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, said: “Today’s announcement shows our Green budget win in action, helping communities across Scotland take the first step in getting back on the rail map after years of isolation.
“We listened to communities who had the vision and drive to reopen rail stations, but needed the support from government to build the case further.
“Re-opening rail stations takes time, but today’s announcement is the first step in a rail revolution that will lead to a positive legacy for generations to come.
“Expanding the rail network is vital if we are to deliver a green and clean transport system for the future, but I can also be a big driver to economically regenerate communities.”
He continued: “We expect many more communities will benefit from the second round of the fund later this year.
“£2m was allocated as part of the budget deal for this year with the Greens so there is a lot further to go.
“I’m delighted that Newburgh rail campaign has directly benefited from the fund, they have developed a compelling case to re-open the station that would be a huge boost to the community.
“The funds will now enable them to develop a strong business case to move forward to the next step.
“It’s important that new housing developments around Perthshire are built around the strongest public transport links.
“A new station at Bridge of Earn has been stalled for years, the appraisal study should bottom out how both Newburgh and Oudenarde could be brought on track.”