PROPSALS to open the Alloa to Fife rail line to passengers has been given fresh hope after the Scottish Parliament referred a public petition to the Longannet Task Force for consideration.

The closure of the power station, due to take place in March, may well have a devastating financial effect on Clackmannanshire and the surrounding areas.

However, plans were put forth that could arguably soften the blow and open up new economic opportunities using the existing rail infrastructure.

Passenger services currently terminate at Alloa, while the line itself runs past Longannet, through the West Fife villages and on to Dunfermline.

A public petition, submitted by Martin Keatings, has called for the service to be extended to allow trains to take passengers from Alloa through the Fife circle, without the need to head into Edinburgh first.

Last week, the petition was forwarded to the Longannet Task Force committee which has already made a bid to the Scottish Government for funding to establish the rail link.

If successful, the new route could open up a wealth of commercial and tourist opportunities.

The move is already supported by Fife Council as well as members of the Scottish Youth Parliament who feel the link could offer better education opportunities for school leavers.

Councillor Donald Balsillie, convener for enterprise and the environment, said: "Clackmannanshire Council is very supportive of the idea of reopening a passenger rail route around the River Forth to enhance and increase travel choices and support tourism and local business.

"To this end, I am delighted that the Scottish Government's petitions committee, in closing the petition, has referred this matter for consideration to the Longannet Task Force.

"As a member of this Task Force I have raised the case for rail passenger and freight expansion from Alloa to Rosyth, Dunfermline and destinations beyond.

"A Longannet Task Force funding bid has just been made to the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, which focuses on employment issues, but also raises the strategic importance and feasibility requirements of the existing rail network around Longannet and its potential to improve and unlock east-west passenger traffic as well as freight."

For the time being, any new stops along the route will be be restricted to Kincardine and the coastal villages in Fife, with little chance of a station at Clackmannan for the time being.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "The proposed reopening of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line through to Dunfermline for passenger services does not feature in the current investment programme; however, it is currently being considered as part of the wider, strategic transportation assessment and appraisal being carried out for the Longannet Taskforce."

The third meeting of the Longannet Taskforce is due to take place on February 29.