Fife rail campaigners back call for ‘fair funding’ of network

scotland: Transport minister urges opposition parties to stand up for rail services

Campaigners fighting for former rail links throughout Fife to be restored have backed transport minister Humza Yousaf’s calls for “fair funding” for Scotland’s railways.

He has written a letter to opposition parties at Holyrood urging them to join him in “standing up” for the rail network after voicing concern over a huge funding shortfall from the UK Government.

The Treasury last week announced that the Scottish Government will receive more than £3.6 billion over five years from 2019-20, an increase of £600 million on the previous period, although Scottish ministers say it will in fact lead to a £600m shortfall as it needs £4.2bn over that period.

That funding gap has sparked renewed concern from activists in Fife who have been pushing for the restoration of rail links in both Levenmouth and St Andrews.

Members of the Levenmouth Rail Campaign (LMRC) say the case for restoring the five-mile track between Leven and Thornton has been made, and claimed last month that a price tag of up to £60m for the project was a “more credible estimate” than the £91m envisaged in an alternate study.

However, if the so-called shortfall figure quoted by Mr Yousaf is correct, there are fears there may be no money available to take initiatives like the Levenmouth one forward.

Eugene Clarke, LMRC chairman, said: “There needs to be sufficient money available to provide for the development of new projects such as LMRC as well as maintaining the existing network.

“The realistic estimate of £60 million for the reinstatement of the Leven rail link is a tiny fraction of the billions spent on huge projects such as HS2 and would provide enormous and measurable improvements for the local community.

“We feel strongly that the agreed funding formula should be adhered to.”

Those comments were echoed by the St Andrews Rail Link campaign, which is pushing for St Andrews to be reconnected to the rail system.

A spokesperson said: “It is a matter of concern that this change of funding apparently threatens the opening of new stations which has already been agreed and should have opened last year.”

There needs to be sufficient money available to provide for the development of new projects such as LMRC

Picture: Scottish Parliament. Humza Yousaf has written to Holyrood ministers seeking their support.