All aboard as land train pulls in to St Andrews

The train proved popular when it came to the town last year during the Open, and now BID St Andrews has arranged for the LocalMotion Land Train to return for a formal week-long trial.

The family-friendly attraction, which can cary up to 60 passengers, will run every day from Monday (July 25) until July 31 between 11am and 5pm, providing visitors and residents with an easy way to see everything St Andrews has to offer.

Passenger numbers from the trial will give BID St Andrews an indication of how many people would use it during a typical summer week. That data will be used to plan how long it will return in summer 2017.

Thanks to its success during last year’s pilot when it transported visitors between the Old Course and the centre of town, Alistair Lang, chairman of BID St Andrews, explained: “We were keen to see how the train might operate at a more typical time of the holiday period.

“The train not only provides a visitor attraction to draw people to the town.

‘‘It also helps showcase what the town has to offer, increases footfall and visitor spend, improves the visitor experience, reduces pressure on parking spaces and makes the town more accessible for those with mobility difficulties.

“This additional trial will help us better assess how we might use the Land Train to achieve maximum value for money for levy-payers.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the many smiling faces of Land Train passengers again and hope it will make them return again after seeing the St Andrews’ highlight and encourage others to do so too.”

This year the route has been extended and hourly departures will run from the cafe at the West Sands to the harbour, via the Bruce Embankment, Golf Place and North Street.

‘‘It will travel through the town centre to the Harbour, returning via South Street and Greyfriars Garden.

Stops at the Cathedral, The Shore and Madras College will be marked with special feather flags – and passengers will be able to hop on and off the train as they like to explore the town’s attractions as they reach them.

Tickets for a full circuit will be priced at £3.50 for adults and £2.50 for children alongside a £10 ticket for a family of four.

Local businesses, including The Adamson restaurant, Johnalan Hair Design and The British Golf Museum, are taking the opportunity to promote themselves through advertising panels on the sides of the train.