Hopes St Andrews could be reconnected to the rail system have been heightened by a new study which suggests a direct link between the town and Edinburgh Airport would not only be possible but would also be profitable.
A feasibility study commissioned by the StARLink (St Andrews Rail Link) campaign is not only expected to make a compelling case for a station at St Andrews but will also suggest train operators would make money should it be taken forward.
The document, produced by York-based Tata Steel, is understood to be in its draft form but has already identified a new route and produced a draft timetable as efforts to return St Andrews to the rail network get up a head of steam.
Trains could run from St Andrews to Dundee on a regular basis, according to the proposals, while the study also suggests a link could also be made between the town and Edinburgh Airport directly something campaigners believe should be actively pursued.
The development has been welcomed by StARLink convener Jane Ann Liston, who believes the case has long existed for St Andrews to be reconnected by rail.
”We now have something concrete to look at the proposed line and the timetable,” she told The Courier. ”This is a proper study that been done and all the signs are looking good.
”The timetable that the consultants have come up with, which not only has St Andrews to Dundee but also St Andrews to Edinburgh that could also take in Edinburgh Airport, I think is very encouraging.”
She continued: ”Tourism is becoming more and more important and traffic congestion is also increasing in the town, so there’s the environmental case as well.
”We think the case for a St Andrews rail link was strong enough when the campaign started, so it’s only been strengthened over the years. Now we have something tangible and it gives our whole argument some more credibility.”
St Andrews had been connected to the rail system from 1852 until 1969, when it fell a victim to British Rail’s cull of branch lines.
The StARLink campaign was launched in 1989 with a view to reconnecting the town to the rail system in the interests of convenience for travellers, the alleviation of traffic congestion and reduction of car-generated pollution.
Leuchars is the closest train station to the town, meaning passengers must find alternative transport from there to get into St Andrews.
Campaigners believe the railway is needed now more than ever as, since the railway closed in 1969, the permanent population has increased from 9,500 to 14,000, and that of the university has risen from 2,000 to more than 7,000.
According to the draft plans, the rail link could be extended west from St Andrews through Guardbridge and connect with the current network to the west and south via Seggiehill Junction and to the west and north via Moonzie Junction.
Indicative timetables also suggest journey times of around six minutes from Leuchars to St Andrews or around 10 minutes from St Andrews to Cupar which would then enable passengers to feed into the existing network and the Fife Circle line.
Pete Lindsay, another supporter of the campaign, said: ”Whereas I’ve always thought St Andrews needs a connection, one of the big problems people have talked about is congestion in the town centre and the number of cars in the town centre. A rail link that could connect St Andrews to Edinburgh Airport really seems so sensible to me.
”The fact that the study suggests that this could be run at a profit is incredibly good news I would’ve thought it would be worth a subsidy anyway but obviously this advances our argument tremendously.”
Any rail link would need to be backed by Transport Scotland, which has stressed the St Andrews rail link is not one of its priorities at the moment, although Scottish Government officials will be invited to the launch of the formal feasibility study report when it is completed later this year.