Technical issues halt city landtrain
Teething problems see service pulled after few days
Efforts to get Stirling’s city centre landtrain rolling have again hit the buffers.
It was hoped the fun transport link would be running in July, and August to capitalise on the tourist season.
But finding an commercial operator, recruiting staff to drive the train and sorting out paperwork needed for the project have proved time consuming.
Proposals for the land train are being brought to fruition by Go Forth, the organisation behind Stirling’s Business Improvement District. It was a key element of its ‘manifesto’ put before businesses prior to the endorsement of the BID in July last year.
There was a quiet launch of the service late last month but that was halted because of fresh problems.
Go Forth Bid director Jon Walton said the landtrain ran for a few days but teething problems were identified and it was pulled from service.
He added: “Unfortunately, the landtrain has failed and is currently under repair.
“It was fully serviced and the tractor unit overhauled before delivery but a few issues that need parts have come to light.
“It needs some parts for the control system in the locomotive, which have
Unfortunately, the land train has failed and is currently under repair
two carriages – was the one bought by Go Forth to operate in Stirling.
Commercial operators have been engaged to run the train while four drivers and four conductors have been recruited.
Go Forth expect the train to cost around £10,000 a year to run and the BID operators anticipate it will operate all the year round and prove a major attraction to visitors during the tourist season and run-up to Christmas.
“I think it will show off to visitors what a wonderful city Stirling is,’’ said Mr Walton.
“There are so many wonderful things to do here and the landtrain will be a good way of getting between them.”