Plans for two new rail stations announced
NEW rail stations will be built at Reston in Berwickshire and East Linton in East Lothian, where the first ScotRail trains could stop in two years’ time, transport minister Keith Brown announced today.
A two-hourly service is planned for the new stops on the Edinburgh-Berwick-upon-Tweed line from December 2016.
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The news comes as a further boost to passengers, who used to have to depend on long-distance East Coast and CrossCountry trains from Dunbar before a ScotRail service was launched in 2010.
Mr Brown said: “This is a huge step forward towards the realisation of these services and shows a real commitment from the Scottish Government and ScotRail.
“Scotland’s railways are a driver for economic regeneration and can bring jobs, investment and new study and social opportunities for communities.”
Mr Brown said Scottish Government’s £30 million fund for new and re-developed stations, which opened this year, was involved in the project.
He said: “Our Scottish Stations Fund is now awaiting further details from the South East Scotland Regional Transport Partnership (SEStran) and East Lothian and Scottish Borders councils for the funding application which will bring the new stations at East Linton and Reston to life.”
Tom Thorburn, chair of the Rail Action Group, East Scotland (Rages), which has long campaigned for the stations, said: “This is terrific news for our area and will be of huge benefit to a whole range of people and businesses.”
SEStran chair Russell Imrie said: “I am delighted to hear the good news in the minister’s announcement.
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Hide Ad“This fits very well with SEStran’s objectives of encouraging alternatives to car use, contributing to the [Scottish] Government’s ambitious targets for reduction of greenhouse gases and supporting economic development in Edinburgh and throughout the SEStran area.”
The announcement comes hard on the heels of campaigners Railfuture Scotland listing the stations among its “top 50” of those it wants to see opened to further boost rail travel.
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