Wrong to assume Leven rail link benefits?

Madam, – I agree entirely with Ms Gireki (Letters, The Courier, August 21) there is no reason to assume a new railway will bring many more visitors to Leven.

It will still be far cheaper, quicker and easier to go by car (especially for families).

Elderly people can travel free on buses.

Most motorists visiting the area proceed along the coast and would not wish to transfer to a bus to do this.

An aim of the project is to make it easier for locals to work in Edinburgh. Since Markinch Station is under 20 minutes drive or bus ride away any time saved would be minuscule.

Since it would be uneconomic to run trains to/from Edinburgh passengers would need to change at Kirkcaldy anyway.

A season ticket for the city would cost more than £2,500 yearly. Local fares would add substantially to this.

Very few people earn enough to afford such amounts or wish to spend about 20 hours a week on travel. That can harm their health.

The construction cost of £70 million is around £6,000 per Levenmouth household, but the majority will not benefit from a new train service. This is a local, not national service. Fife Council should pay for it.

Other ways of spending available money should be examined.

What is needed are more good local jobs. There is no reason to think the railway will bring those.

Anyway there are already far too many “commuting” to Edinburgh.

The government is to spend vast amounts on new railways when councils are in severe financial straits, basic services are being decimated, roads are not properly maintained and most public toilets have been closed, with severe consequences for many and public health: £70 million would surely be enough to build several hundred new facilities. Kevin Lawrie. 15 Dunkeld Road, Perth.