Report calls for Fife rail link to be restored

Reopening the St Andrews rail link has been put forward as part of a £22 billion rail revolution proposed by the Scottish Green Party.
MSP Mark Ruskell.MSP Mark Ruskell.
MSP Mark Ruskell.

The Rail for All programme proposes all towns in Scotland with a population of over 5000 people be connected to the network, and says St Andrews should be a high priority.

This should be a central part of Scotland’s green recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, says Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell, creating thousands of jobs whilst delivering essential infrastructure to tackle the climate emergency. There is currently a feasibility study looking at a new St Andrews rail link, funded by the Local Rail Development Fund.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Other proposed projects in Fife include a new station at Newburgh, reopening the Dunfermline to Alloa line, and an ambitious plan for a cross Forth rail tunnel between Kirkcaldy and Leith.

Mr Ruskell said: “I’ve long been a champion of the St Andrews rail link, and this report shows there’s never been a better time to make this kind of investment. There is huge public support for a green economic recovery from Covid, and we know investment in rail will create much needed jobs in north east Fife and provide a legacy for local communities.

“The key principle of the programme is to make the rail network accessible to everyone, and St Andrews is an obvious missing link in the east coast network. A site of such significance for tourism, education, sport and the local economy needs to be a high priority for a rail line.

“The proposed new station at Newburgh would also be a huge boost for rural north Fife. I’m pleased to have won funding for the Local Rail Development Fund to get the ball rolling on both these projects, this report now shows what a wider programme of investment needs to look like.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The proposed tunnel under the Forth to Edinburgh would not only reduce journey times from Fife, but would ease pressure on the rail network at the Forth Rail Bridge and Haymarket. This proposal would be the biggest rail investment Scotland has ever seen, but there’s never been a better time to do it, and it could help make a climate-friendly rail network the natural choice for daily journeys.”

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.