Locals urged to bid for grant for Burntisland station access

Local people and groups keen to secure better access at Burntisland Railway Station have until November 16 to make their case for funding.

With no disabled access on the northbound platform, wheelchair users or those with limited mobility have to stay on the train until Kirkcaldy and cross the platform there, or exit at an earlier station and take a taxi to Burntisland.

It emerged earlier this year that cash might be available through the Access for All Fund for improvements.

Conservative councillor Kathleen Leslie has sought information on how to apply and is urging local groups to take a lead before the deadline.

“From the beginning, I was told in Scotland nominations for the next control period of Access for All Funding had to go through Transport Scotland,” she said.

“However, whilst Network Rail provided a link to the nomination form, none such existed on the Transport Scotland website and despite a flurry of emails I was not getting an answer.”

She said she was given conflicting information on the process including a belief that Fife Council was moving ahead with an application, but this was not the case.

“Upon contacting officers I was advised by a lead consultant it was not clear how the council would lobby to have a station added to the list,” she said.

“Nominations are to be submitted directly to ScotRail’s access and inclusion manager using the Network Rail form.

“It really is that straightforward, but it makes me wonder why that information was not just given to me directly when I first inquired,” she said.