Hundreds air their views on rail link

Published on 01/03/2006 11:50

HUNDREDS of residents have made their voices heard on the proposed re-opening of a rail link between Airdrie and Bathgate.

Network Rail organised nine meetings along the route, as well as exhibitions in Edinburgh and Glasgow, to gauge residents' views on the plans.

The information is now being collated and reviewed as the next stage of the project begins.

Ron McAulay, Network Rail's director in Scotland, said: "We've had a marvellous response to the proposals from a wide variety of people.

Each response has been documented and we will be reviewing them all before the final proposals are submitted to parliament in spring. We'd like to thank everyone who took the time to come and look at the plans and talk to us about them."

More than 1600 people attended the meetings and exhibitions and around 3000 leaflets have been given to community councils, community wardens, local interest groups and individuals.

If the railway is re-opened, it is expected to cut M8 traffic.