New rail fund is little more than tokenism

Sir, – News of the Scottish Government’s rail development fund awards announced in St Andrews on Thursday strikes me as a classic case of the authorities pretending to do something with little intention of following through.

There is no harm in supporting local campaigns around the country to take forward their proposals but whether this investment benefits any other than transport consultants, let alone leads eventually to any meaningful re-opening of stations or lines, must be seriously questioned.

Take the sore example of Levenmouth where there are five and half miles of mothballed line in place, already owned by Network Rail.

It is the largest urban area in Scotland with no rail link.

The line could be easily and quickly reconnected to the national network for £50 million.

I am aware of three major Levenmouth transport studies conducted in the past decade with, incredibly, a fourth now in progress.

All have shown a very positive case for re-opening direct rail services to Edinburgh, by extending the Fife Circle.

Yet no government decision to extend any rail services has been made since 2006.

So what hope do other projects which already face greater obstacles or weaker cases have?

I fear this latest fund is mere tokenism and a delaying tactic to quieten campaigners.

What is needed is a clear policy to reconnect significant communities.

Ken Maclagan.

2 Union Place, Leven.

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. St Andrews campaigners Jane Ann Liston and Dita Stanis-Traken with transport minister Michael Matheson, centre, on the old line at St Andrews.