Boost for bid to restore rail link
PLANS to restore an historic Glasgow to Fife railway line are finally back on track. Campaigners have shared their delight at news the city’s direct link to Dunfermline could be returned after six decades in the sidings.
It comes amid proposals to electrify the Alloa to Longannet route, which currently stops in Clackmannanshire via Croy, and extend the line through West Fife.
Jane Ann Liston, secretary at thinktank Railfuture Scotland, said: “Railfuture Scotland backs a direct line from Glasgow to Dunfermline via Alloa which would clearly benefit travellers at both ends of the journey by cutting out the extra time spent going in and out of Edinburgh, and taking passengers away from the very busy lines through Haymarket into Waverley would be a great advantage.
“It would also benefit the towns of Clackmannan and Kincardine by restoring rail services which they have not enjoyed since 1930.”
Network Rail engineers will be carrying out survey work in the coming months to determine if it will be possible to enhance the former freight line and introduce three new stations at Clackmannan, Kincardine and Longannet.
However, it is hoped it will eventually lead to the restoration of a direct link between Glasgow and St Andrews.
Ms Liston added: “Railfuture Scotland would like to see the line extended in time to St Andrews, thus bringing about Glasgow- StirlingAlloa- Dunfermline- Cupar- St Andrews trains and better connecting three university towns, particularly as the direct bus between St Andrews and Stirling has been taken off.”
Douglas Chapman, Dunfermline and West Fife MP, believes the line could be the “final piece in the puzzle” in linking Glasgow and the town.
He added: “Currently, people across Fife need to firstly travel to Edinburgh before connecting to Glasgow and that is discouraging us from taking rail travel seriously and hopping in the car, because it is easier.”
Graeme Stewart, Network Rail’s sponsor for the development work on the new West of Fife enhancement proposals, said: “While it is still at a very early phase, there are ambitious plans to expand the railway and develop transport options that improve connectivity between towns in Clackmannanshire and Fife.”
It could be the final piece in the puzzle