A campaign to reinstate train stations in two East Ayrshire towns is gaining momentum.
An online petition has already gathered almost 800 signatures as the campaign group fights to get Cumnock and Mauchline ‘back on track.’
East Ayrshire Conservative councillor for Cumnock and New Cumnock, Neil Watts, is behind the bid and supported by Councillor Alyson Simmons (Ballochmyle) and South Scotland Conservative MSPs Sharon Dowey and Brian Whittle.
The group believes that as many as 200,000 people would use a station in Cumnock every year – and more than 120,000 would potentially use one in Mauchline.
They’re also convinced that the reintroduction of the two stations, which closed in the 1960s during the Beeching cuts, would help grow the local economy and bring tourism to the two historic towns.
A statement accompanying the online petition reads: “We request that the Scottish Government and ScotRail reopen the stations in Cumnock and Mauchline in East Ayrshire.
“We also request that ScotRail timetable extra trains on the line to help properly serve commuters from Cumnock and Mauchline to Kilmarnock and Glasgow Central.”
The statement goes on: “The stations in Cumnock and Mauchline were closed in 1965 under the Beeching Cuts and now, with the towns growing in population, they need the reopening of the train stations to help reduce car traffic on the busy A76.
“Reopening the stations would also help the local economy and bring extra visitors to the historic towns.”
The statement adds: “Thinktank Railfuture Scotland has included the two towns on a list of 50 stations across Scotland the group believes should be opened or reopened on existing lines in a bid to attract the public back on trains as the nation wants to shift away from carbon-emitting cars.”
Both Cumnock and Mauchline railway stations were originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr railway and closed to passengers on December 6, 1965.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “The proposed stations at Mauchline and Cumnock were assessed as part of the preliminary appraisal stage of second strategic transport projects review (STPR2).
"The outcome of this was that both these proposed stations did not form part of the strategic transport investment recommendations for rail in Scotland.
“However, regional or local rail projects can be brought forward where there is a strong business case, in accordance with Scottish transport appraisal guidance. Any such projects will be assessed on a case-by-case basis in line with available funding and existing priorities.
“In terms of levels of services, ScotRail keep these under regular review and improvements were made on the Kilmarnock-Dumfries route as recently as May 2022 following public consultation.”
View the petition at https://home.38degrees.org.uk/ then search for Cumnock/Mauchline.
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