THE Railfuture Scotland campaign group has signalled their support for opening up the Alloa to Dunfermline railway line – with additional stops at Clackmannan and Kincardine.

Furthermore, members have called for more frequent services, in a bid to ensure greater connectivity across the enhanced rail network.

Roderick McDougall, vice-chair of the group, who is also a chartered civil engineer and retired transport professional, has tabled proposals that would mean a number of new links across the country.

He calls for links between Alloa and Dunfermline, Perth and Cowdenbeath and Perth to Laurencekirk via Forfar, as well as branch lines to Comrie, Levenmouth and St Andrews.

It is argued these would enable new services such as Comrie-Edinburgh via Kirkcaldy; Levenmouth-Edinburgh via both Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy; and St Andrews-Glasgow via Dunfermline, Alloa and Stirling.

The group adds that the service frequencies are in line with the policy to ensure journeys to major employment, social and commercial centres of less than 20 miles have a 15 minute or better train service and those less than 60 miles have a 30 minute or better service.

Together with several new stations on the existing network, these proposals may "result in a significant modal shift from road to rail, boosting the economy, increasing prosperity and protecting the environment".

Mr McDougall told the Advertiser: "Getting from Stirling and Alloa through to Fife is very quite difficult at times.

"There should be a route from Glasgow through Stirling, Alloa and Dunfermline, and if we get the link to St Andrew's too, then people in these areas could get themselves there as well.

"The rail line is right there, it would be absolute madness not to use it, and we could easily pick up a few stations along the way at Clackmannan, Kincardine, as well as Culross and Valleyfield."

Transport bosses have said they would consider new stops should there be suitable evidence to support it.

However, Mr McDougall added: "Currently there is only an hourly service at Alloa and it's not exactly the type of get-up-and-go service that would persuades you to leave your car behind.

"We would like to see that doubled, with the link opened up and with additional stops.

"There would be benefits for business, education and tourism but also that house prices and house building can often go up in places where connectivity is better.

"We're really trying to push for movement here, as things will stagnate if nothing is done.

"It took 25 years' campaigning to get the Borders railway back, and that has been such a success it is defeating itself. Trains are running late because they have to wait longer at platforms to let more passengers on.

"I would hope that success would mean a greater appetite for expanding the network."

Mr McDougall said: "Whereas it is Network Rail's job to look after and maintain the existing network and Scotrail's job to operate passenger trains on it in accordance with their franchise, there appears to be no-one charged with looking at extending and improving the network.

"This is a government responsibility which they are shirking by passing it on to cash strapped regional transport authorities and local councils without giving them either the authority or the financial ability to fulfil it. It is only pressure groups like ours that are trying to kick start a renaissance in railway improvements."

In response, a Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We are delivering the most ambitious programme of rail investment ever seen in Scotland, committing over £5billion across the current funding period. Transport Scotland are willing to consider proposals for new services and stations where there is clear evidence of benefits, subject to affordability and a suitable business case being identified.

“As part of the Longannet Task Force Economic Recovery Plan, the Scottish Government has committed to fund half the cost of a comprehensive strategic transport appraisal, to be taken forward by Fife Council for the Fife and Clackmannanshire area, which will consider all transport modes to determine the most appropriate solutions.

“In addition, in March the Scottish Government also announced funding for the retention of 13 additional trains which will allow us to deliver the largest programme of customer improvements seen in Scotland in a generation. In practice this means ScotRail will have the capacity to run 200 more services carrying 20,000 more passengers per day, which will mean a significant increase in rail capacity for Fife.”