Published: Wednesday, 28th May, 2008 12:00
West Fife councillors support rail extension
By Jamie MacDonald
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An extension of the rail line from Alloa to Kincardine through to the port at Rosyth would be particularly beneficial for freight transport.
Pic by: Ciaran Donnelly
COUNCILLORS in West Fife have voiced their support for an extension to the reopened Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line – with the possibility of direct train services to Dunfermline and the ferry port at Rosyth.
And Ochil MSP Keith Brown has again voiced his desire to see an integrated transport system, linking the new railway through Clackmannanshire the east coast network and ferry services.
As reported in last week’s Advertiser, Mr Brown has expressed a long-term hope to see passenger trains from Stirling and Alloa running through Kincardine and on to Rosyth and Dunfermline.
In a debate at the Scottish Parliament, Mr Brown stated, “If we can create an integrated transport system that takes people and goods from west to east and vice versa across the north side of the Forth, it will have a huge impact on Kincardine and the West Fife villages.”
The benefits for West Fife have not been lost on the four councillors in the area, who have been voicing support for an extension to the recently reopened rail line.
Councillor Willie Ferguson said people were increasingly mentioning a possible rail link to him.
“It’s only 10 minutes on the new train from Alloa to Stirling so it would be great for commuters,” he said. “I’m sure Kincardine will expand with the new bridge and we want to increase investment in West Fife. A new rail link would help us do that.”
Councillor Gerry McMullan said that he felt there would be economic benefits for the whole of West Fife if the rail line was extended.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity and some of the infrastructure is already here,” he said. “I’m quite sure the council’s transportation department will be looking at it.”
Councillor William Walker said he had been campaigning for the line to be extended for some years now, and Councillor Bobby Clelland – while saying he would like to see a feasibility study first – thought it was a good idea.
Mr Clelland added, “The Government keeps talking about taking cars off the road so this would be a good way of doing that.”
For a rail link to be re-established along the West Fife coast, the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) would first need to carry out a feasibility study.
It would then present this to government body Transport Scotland for consideration.
Ian Mathie, programme manager at SEStran, said that while the link was not something they were currently looking at, it could be a possibility.
“We would have to co-ordinate with Fife Council, but certainly, that is something we would be interested in,” he said.
Councillor Tony Martin, chair of Fife Council’s environment and transport committee, said the council’s main priority would be to extend the current freight line from Alloa to Kincardine right through to the port at Rosyth. A passenger link was a longer-term objective, he said.
Mr Brown, meanwhile, this week confirmed his wish to see a transport system linking rail and ferry services – an issue he raised over the years when he was a councillor in Clackmannanshire.
“All across Europe, countries have integrated transport systems which link buses, rail and ferry services, and such a system here would be particularly beneficial in helping to remove freight traffic from our roads,” he said.
“It would make sense to have a rail link from Stirling to Alloa through to Rosyth.”
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