THE campaign to reinstate train passenger services to the east of Alloa is forging ahead with a fresh funding bid for a rail study.

Community representatives from the Wee County and west Fife met in Kincardine this month following busy public meetings in both areas, discussing ambitions for an Alloa to Dunfermline passenger railway line.

The most recent gathering was organised by Green MSP Mark Ruskell, who has been campaigning on the issue, with representatives from Alloa and Clackmannan community councils in attendance.

Members of Go Forth Kincardine also came along as the efforts continue to get all interested parties behind a bid to the Scottish Government’s Local Rail Development Fund.

The money is used for feasibility studies and appraisals with an aim of developing community-led rail improvements.

While a previous bid was unsuccessful last year due to uncertainties over the site of the former Longannet Power Station, there are hopes that interest from Spanish train manufacturers Talgo could drive it forward this time as the company seeks to develop a factory there.

Stuart Adam, transport lead for Clackmannan Community Council, said he has aspirations to promote a multi-modal system with local buses feeding into train stations if the railway is opened up to passengers.

However, rather than petitioning for stop at Clackmannan, he feels there is scope for one in Kincardine.

Stuart told the Advertiser: “We are including Clackmannan and saying a bus can go rather than the train having to stop [everywhere] all the way up.

“For Culross for example, the bus goes from Culross into Kincardine – it’s a more effective way of doing it because otherwise you’ve effectively got a tram.”

Cameron Little, who serves as Stuart’s counterpart at Alloa Community Council, said the town has already seen the benefits when the rail link was re-established to Stirling.

He added: “We are, and have for some time been, fully supportive of Mark Ruskell’s campaign to open up the railway to the east and allow the same travel opportunities to the residents of Clackmannan, Kincardine and the west Fife villages.”

Donald Campbell, of Go Forth Kincardine, is one of the key players in driving the bid forward.

He said: “Now that work is underway to bring Talgo to Longannet, it’s time we pressed on with the feasibility studies needed to bring this rail line back to life.

“Having the line used for freight and new trains would be great, but there’s a clear demand for a passenger service from Alloa to Dunfermline too, and we need to make sure that’s on the table as plans progress.”

MSP Mark Ruskell is confident recent public meetings showed there is “overwhelming support” for the plans.

He added: “There are some understandable concerns about noise disturbance and unreliable services, but these can all get worked through in the feasibility studies.

“Overall though, people recognise the transformational impact a rail link could have on employment, study and leisure opportunities for communities like Kincardine, Clackmannan and the Fife coastal villages.”