THIS Saturday will mark a decade since the reopening of the Alloa-Stirling railway line for passengers.

The milestone was celebrated by public figures across the Wee County last week and it was also a chance to call for future improvements.

A 13-mile stretch, it saw no passenger services for 40 years with the first new train leaving on May 19, 2008.

One of the people involved in bringing the trains back was MSP Keith Brown, council leader at the time.

The SNP representative said he was “extremely proud” to have played a part in the drive to re-open the line.

He added: “The project has had a hugely significant benefit for Clackmannanshire, in making travel across the central belt and beyond simple and straightforward for people across this area as well as making Clackmannanshire much more accessible for visitors, with the obvious boost to the local economy that brings.”

A motion from his colleague and current council leader Councillor Ellen Forson also marked the occasion in the chamber at Kilncraigs.

A number of councillors reminisced about the ride on the inaugural service while highlighting the success of the initiative.

Many also hailed the future benefits of the recent electrification works, even if it did cause some disruption for a short period of time.

Cameron Little, Alloa Community Council’s lead on transport, said the project was “far more successful than was initially imagined” and is now looking forward, hoping the train line could be opened up to Fife.

He told the Advertiser: “Now after another 10 years of debate and discussion it's time for positive and practical steps to be taken to provide a passenger link to the east that would enable the same benefits to the communities between here and Dunfermline and provide another link into Edinburgh.

“In 2002, the then Railtrack regarded the line as a strategic link that should be brought back into use. Since then it's been debated in Holyrood in 2008 and we have had a STAG Transport appraisal in 2010 and it was further discussed in the deliberations of the Longannet Task Force.

“It is time to stop talking and try what Mark Ruskell MSP and his advisers have suggested: an experimental service with temporary stations, like what was provided for Culross in 1992 for their historic celebrations.”

Mr Ruskell, Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, also hailed the success of the Alloa to Stirling link.

He said: “We now need to start thinking about the next 10 years, and how we can build on the success of Alloa station to open up the rest of the line through to Clackmannan, Kincardine and eventually Dunfermline.

“I’ve been working with the local community councils in Alloa and Kincardine to help bring together an application for the Local Rail Development Fund, which we hope will get the ball rolling on reopening this line to passengers.”

The Mid Scotland and Fife representative, who also asked Clackmannanshire Council to get involved, added it was not just about transport options, the railway helps link communities and create places where people e want to live, shop and work.