Next railway

At the head of the queue for new projects must be the Thornton-Leven line.

This was never recommended for closure under Beeching yet we’ve also languished in isolation since 1969. The five-mile stretch of line is fully intact, owned by Network Rail.

The last assessment in 2008 showed a very positive economic case – unlike that for the Borders. The junction is already functioning for freight, it would merely extend existing Fife Circle services rather than require new ones and the overall cost is likely to be less than a quarter of the Borders project.

Levenmouth desperately needs improved connections to allow journeys to work and study for by far the largest population in Scotland with no rail link (45-50,000 including the southern East Neuk), to support significant industrial investment (Diageo, Fife Energy Park) here and to alleviate deprivation.

It really is an open goal for any Scottish Government. Yet another feasibility study is proceeding as I write but if this line does not receive approval within the next year, there will be uproar at the sheer injustice and our continued exclusion.

Ken Maclagan

Union Place

Leven

Fife

Before the SNP government and Abellio/ScotRail congratulate themselves too much over the reopened line are they aware that the self-service machines at the stations and indeed Waverley as well do not recognise any station south of the old terminus of Newcraighall.

I went to Waverley to buy a cheap day return to Tweedbank having had no luck at Brunstane and was met by a huge queue waiting to get various tickets. I thought that a notice saying use the self service machine was a bit incongruous! I suppose they have only had about three years to update the machines And the irony was that no-one checked my ticket during each journey so I need not have bothered. This must be addressed as a matter of urgency otherwise all good vibes will be lost.

Scott Miller

Coillesdene Avenue

Edinburgh