Fresh hopes for reinstated rail link at historic Scottish town

Rail link: There are fresh hopes for a rail link at St Andrews.

There are fresh hopes for a rail link between St Andrews and Leuchars after a study was carried out.

The feasibility report was commissioned by lobbying group STARLINK, St Andrews Rail Link, with financial support from Rail Future Scotland, St Andrews Community Council and Rail Future UK, as well as from individuals.

The report has looked at a variety of areas including a service to Edinburgh on the hour reaching Cupar in ten minutes, Dunfermline in 49 minutes and the Edinburgh Airport interchange in just over an hour.

It also looked at a service to Dundee every half hour reaching Leuchars in six minutes, Dundee in 20 minutes and with a stop at Wormit.

Convener of STARLINK Jane Ann Liston said the proposal presents an opportunity to improve the connections to St Andrews, and also enhance rail services to Cupar, Dunfermline and Dundee, as well as restoring them to Wormit.

She added it would be a welcome boost for the tourism industry as it would make a direct connection between St Andrews and Edinburgh Airport possible in just over an hour.

She said: "This is an excellent opportunity not only to bring the Home of Golf and Scotland’s oldest university town within the main transport network, but also to improve the environment by reducing car use and I trust that the authorities can take the first steps to make it a reality.”

The report puts the cost of the new track at £76m.

The rail connection to St Andrews was severed in British Rail’s controversial Beeching cuts in 1969.

Since 1989, the STARLINK pressure group has been campaigning with the stated aim of reconnecting the town to the rail system in the interests of convenience for travellers, the alleviation of traffic congestion and a reduction of car generated pollution in St Andrews.

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