Twenty thousand questionnaires gauging support for the use of a railway to St Andrews were distributed free to all homes in the town, and to the 7000-strong student population, during November and December.

Campaign group, STARLINK (St Andrews Rail Link), were behind the survey.
Convener, Jane Ann Liston, told the Citizen: "Support for the railway from the respondees is overwhelming.

''It is clear that, despite the best efforts of Fife Council and Stagecoach, taking the bus to Leuchars for the train is simply not seen as convenient enough, fast enough or comfortable enough, in particular for passengers with disabilities, the elderly, parents with small children or anyone with a significant amount of luggage.

''There is still dissatisfaction with the lack of co-ordination between buses and trains, the unheated bus-stop — still partly exposed to the elements — and the difficulties of catching a bus to St Andrews late at night.

''Despite the bus timetable being adjusted, so that it is not scheduled to leave until after the last train is in, people do not trust this to actually work. People think, quite rightly, that St Andrews deserves much better."

Out of 611 responses, 79 per cent were from residents of St Andrews; nine per cent were from commuters into the town and 12 per cent from visitors.

Those demonstrated that 80 per cent of residents who did take the bus to Leuchars, to catch the train from there, would use rail more if there were services to St Andrews.

Seventy eight per cent of residents who did not take the bus to Leuchars for the train would also use a St Andrews railway.

"As most of these are driving a car, this suggests a good opportunity for modal shift," said Ms Liston.

"Those two figures comprise 79 per cent of the residents' responses.

Another 15 per cent are users of the bus to Leuchars who would make the same amount of rail journeys if a St Andrews railway was built."

High among the reasons given for supporting a railway were shorter journey times and convenience, both for disabled and elderly people and those travelling with small children and luggage.

Bus fares were also perceived as expensive for such a short journey and people said they considered trains more comfortable.

Problems for travellers highlighted included bus delays, causing them to miss their connection with the subsequent inconvenience of waiting for another train, particularly in the dark.

There were also worries about getting back from Leuchars if passengers had travelled there on a late train.

Another point raised in the survey was that many visitors didn't realise how far Leuchars was from St Andrews, with one B & B provider saying she had lost bookings once her potential guests learned the nearest railway station was not actually in the town.