A NEW campaign has been launched to bring a railway station to a Scottish village, with a new report setting out the benefits this would bring.
The report – titled A Vision for a New Rail Connection in Winchburgh – sets out the findings of an expert assessment and found there would be benefits from a new rail connection between the village and the wider Lothian region.
Multiple figures within the community, including business leaders and councillors, have given the plan their support.
Based on an assessment commissioned by Winchburgh Developments Ltd and conducted by Systra, the report found:
- Trips on congested roads to central Edinburgh would be replaced with train journeys taking less than 15 minutes
- An estimated 1658 car journeys could be taken off the road every day which would amount to 419,490 journeys annually
- Remaining road users would benefit from reduced congestion as a result as well as improved air quality
- The station would support direct benefits to passengers of £2.4 million a year and generate at least £3.5m of decongestion benefits a year
Discussions surrounding the new station have been ongoing between developers, Network Rail, ScotRail, Transport Scotland and other key stakeholders.
It is hoped the new campaign can help galvanise community support and lead to progress on the station.
SNP councillor Diane Calder, quoted in the report, said: “With the Scottish Government’s ambitions to create and encourage the use of sustainable public transport and reduce car use and the increasing population in Winchburgh, in my view it is imperative that we deliver a train station here.
“I fully support ongoing work to and considerations of all parties to pull everyone together to build the collective momentum to deliver a Winchburgh train station.”
The plans have been submitted by a number of parties, with Scottish Labour and Tory councillors also backing the plans.
Elsewhere, chair of the local Community Council Graham Campbell said: “The Community Council would be delighted to see a new train station built in Winchburgh.
“Opening Winchburgh up to the rail network would provide easier access for the community to visit Glasgow or Stirling, and allow people from further away to experience all that Winchburgh has to offer.”
