Two Fife train stations record increase in passengers in last year

Of the 19 stations throughout Fife, 17 suffered a drop in entries and exits as a result of Covid-19.

However, Springfield and Kinghorn both saw figures rise.

The former, by far the least used station in Fife, had 50 more passengers use the station, while the Kinghorn station had just under 300 more visitors.

The annual table showed that Inverkeithing remained the busiest station in the Kingdom, with Kirkcaldy the second busiest.

Leuchars, however, rose up the table, overtaking Dunfermline Town as the third busiest station in Fife.

StARLink convenor, Councillor Jane Ann Liston said the results “underlines the need for a rail connection to St Andrews itself”.

She added: “As expected, during 2019-20 most Fife stations suffered a drop in passenger numbers, although Kinghorn and Springfield enjoyed slight increases.

“However it was notable that Leuchars, despite a drop of 7.6 per cent, overtook Dunfermline Town as the third busiest station in Fife, after Inverkeithing and Kirkcaldy.”

Cllr Liston added: “This is without doubt due to mainly non-commuting travel to St Andrews, and reflects the national pattern of an increased share of leisure journeys as commuting plummets due to home-working.”