Train plan is on track

SNP will look at rail proposal

The SNP has pledged to take forward plans to re-open the railway line between Stirling and Fife.

Calls for the line to be utilised have been strengthened by the closure of Longannet Power Station, which had used freight trains on the line to transport coal to Kincardine.

The party announced this week that it would examine the case to re-open the line if it returns to power next month.

The SNP election manifesto stated: “We will examine the case for an extension of the StirlingAlloa rail line to Dunfermline by upgrading the existing Longannet freight line.”

In November of last year, the Scottish Government agreed to consider the request of a petition, backed by 647 people, which called for passenger services to be reinstated on the line.

Between 1850 and 1930, Kincardine line had stops at Clackmannan, Kilbagie, Kincardine, Culross, Torryburn and Cairneyhill.

Martin Keatings, who presented the petition, said: “Whilst it is regrettable that job losses are occurring as a result of the closure of Longannet Power Station, this does open possibilities with regards to improvement of public transport in Fife. The Forth Circle (AKA Longannet Line) already being in place could, with the establishment of passenger platforms, be transformed into a critical link from Dunfermline to Kincardine, servicing the Fife villages with nominal expense. This would allow a direct link between the Fife Circle and the AlloaStirling lines and allow quick transport between both.”

Longannet Power Station closed last month, after 47 years of production, and some Stirling residents had complained about noise created by trains running on the line through the night.