Published: Wednesday, 26th March, 2008 12:00
MSP expects trains will be running to Alloa in May
By Jamie MacDonald
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Ochil MSP Keith Brown would like to see the new railway in operation on Monday 19 May.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
OCHIL MSP Keith Brown is confident that the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line will be open for business on Monday 19 May.
Trains will be running along the line from next week for driver training and hopes are high that the line will officially be open sooner rather than later.
The date of the long awaited return of trains to the Wee County was recently thrown into confusion with Transport Scotland and Smarts – the company responsible for enquiries about the line – stating that it will not open until the summer, whilst the company responsible for integrating the rail service with local buses suggesting Sunday 18 May as the opening date.
Mr Brown told the Advertiser that work being carried out elsewhere on the network means it is highly unlikely that Sunday 18 May will see the grand opening but after talks with the Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson there should be no such problems with the Monday.
The MSP said, “Engineering works on the line mean that 18 May is out but the Transport Minister is pretty confident that it could happen on the following day.
“I’m now waiting for confirmation, but I’m hopeful that we will be able to work towards this date.
“It has been a long, long road but the main thing is getting the line up and running, it will be a big thing for Clackmannanshire.”
Over the Easter weekend more than 100 engineers worked almost 5500 hours to upgrade the track and signaling to enable trains to run from the existing railway at Stirling onto the new 13-mile track that passes through Clackmannanshire to Longannet Power Station.
A May opening appears to be quite possible now the weekend’s work has completed one of the final milestones of the project. From this Monday trains will regularly be running along the line so drivers have the chance to familiarise themselves with the route.
Scott Prentice, Transport Scotland’s senior project manager, said, “The project team is delighted at the huge effort put in by our engineers over the Easter weekend to successfully complete the complex signaling works required to connect the existing railway to the new route.
“The railway is now operational from this point and I would urge the public to heed all warning notices and keep outwith the railway boundary.
“When driver training begins there will be regular trains running on the line and passing through the level crossings on a daily basis – all level crossing signals must be obeyed.”
The railway was originally scheduled to arrive last summer at a cost of £35 million.
Delays have pushed the opening date back significantly and costs have rocketed.
Keith Brown continued, “The Scottish Government is not happy with the cost and price over-run but there has been no more cost overruns since the SNP came in last year.
“The estimated final cost I have heard is in the region of £84 million.”
He added, “Many organisations only hold conferences where there is rail access so the railway could be a great boost to the area in that respect – things are on the up.”
Before the railway officially opens Network Rail will return to the county with their highly successful No Messin’ campaign and they will work with the British Transport Police to deliver a comprehensive safety programme to local schools and youth organisations.
Community engagement will also be taking place in conjunction with Network Rail to ensure that residents are fully informed about how to use all crossings safely.
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