Discussions with Transport Scotland on the possible return of a rail link to St Andrews have so far proved “positive and productive”, according to the group behind the project.
Members of the St Andrews Rail Link (StARLink) action group have met with officials to hear their advice on how the group could progress towards the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) process a formal procedure all transportation proposals must now undergo.
Encouragingly, Transport Scotland has told campaigners that much of the information needed is already included in a rail feasibility study StARLink commissioned 2012.
Officials have pledged to assist StARLink in presenting the appropriate data required to form the basis of the STAG assessment.
A StARLink spokesperson said: “We very much appreciate Transport Scotland coming to St Andrews to meet us and for the help its officers have agreed to provide.
“We will now go ahead with the collation of evidence to bolster what we perceive to be the unarguable case for a St Andrews rail link.
“It is actually quite disgraceful that the world golfing capital and the home of the country’s oldest university a unique town and premier international destination does not have its own direct rail link, the only viable means of providing en-masse transportation that is economical, environmental and efficient.”
Any reinstatement of the link would see passenger services return to and from the town for the first time since 1969, although estimates suggest the project could cost upwards of £76 million.