Cabinet Secretary for Transport visits Newburgh

The Cabinet Secretary was invited to the town by MSPs and met with representatives from the Newburgh Train Station Campaign. She was given her a brief tour of key locations in the town, including the proposed site for a new station.

The group then met with local people who support the campaign at Lindores Abbey Distillery where a presentation had been prepared on the potential transformative effect of re-opening a train station in Newburgh.

SEStran, the transport partnership which was given local rail development funding to carry out an appraisal of transport options for Newburgh, submitted a revised appraisal to Transport Scotland in June 2024, a year after first submitting a document.

When the Cabinet Secretary was most recently questioned by MSPs on the proposal in March she said that she had made clear to her officials that she would like their advice on the project before the end of May. The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2025-26 also included: “Considering the outcomes of local and regional proposals for new stations on Scotland’s railway network, for example at Newburgh…”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:

“I was pleased to meet many of the key partners and campaigners today and I was impressed with their passion and knowledge. Without the determination and patience of communities, game-changing infrastructure like Borders Rail and Levenmouth would be difficult.

“We are committed to on-going improvements to rail services and connectivity, and there remains a pathway for local or regional rail schemes to come forward. All rail proposals will be considered subject to a robust business case, the Scottish Government’s priorities, our rail investment strategy and the affordability of such proposals.

“Thanks to funding from the Scottish Government, the South East Scotland Regional Transport Partnership has undertaken a transport appraisal of Newburgh, in partnership with the Newburgh Train Station Campaign.

“Under my direction, Transport Scotland is working closely with SEStran and the Newburgh Train Station Group to consider a range of transport options.

“Transport Scotland is now considering the appraisal report before a decision is made on next steps.”

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell added:

“It’s taken years to build the business case for a station at Newburgh and I’ve been proud to support the community on that journey. But now that case has been finalised, the visit was a great opportunity to bring it alive and show what a station could really deliver for the economy and people of Newburgh and Abernethy. I was really pleased that the Cabinet Secretary accepted our invitation to see that vision for herself. There is a compelling case for investment, I hope we are closer now than ever to turn that into reality.”

North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie added:

“I am delighted that we were able to bring the Cabinet Secretary to Newburgh and I am grateful to her for agreeing to the visit. It was an important opportunity to see the benefits that reopening a train station would bring to the town, as well as the overwhelming support for the plan in the local community.

“It has been a long process to get to this point, with a great deal of hard work by local campaigners. I am hopeful - after continual pressure from me and other MSPs, discussions with the government during the budget process, and the commitment in the Programme for Government - that a decision will be made soon.”