Major boost for Reston station campaign
CAMPAIGNERS for the re-opening of Reston Station were given a major boost last week when the Scottish Transport Minister agreed to fund the next step in the process to find out whether it will be financially viable.
There had been uncertainly as to who would pay for the next indepth look at costings and demand, but when he met local MSPs and campaigners last week, Stewart Stevenson agreed to commit the Scottish Government to funding a development study into the reopening of Reston Station and an hourly service between Edinburgh and Dunbar.
The development study will look at the balance between the desire to attract new users against the impact on network capacity; the needs of existing passengers; value for money and affordability.
Berwickshire MSP John Lamont said: "This is extremely welcome news and is a step in the right direction.
"Whilst the Scottish Government had previously indicated that it was supportive of the re-opening of the station at Reston, there was growing frustration that more progress was not being made to move this project forward. The Transport Minister has confirmed that the Government is ready to move to the next stage and expects to do so shortly.
"For too long Berwickshire has not had the investment in its transport network that it deserves.
"Whilst much is said about the re-opening of the railway to Galashiels, this will not address the inadequate public transport in the eastern Borders. The re-opening of Reston station would go some way to rectify this but we need to see real progress in delivering this."
Rail Action Group East of Scotland (RAGES) have welcomed the fact that the development study is being undertaken at least a year ahead of the timescale that they had been led to believe.
East Berwickshire councillor Jim Fullarton said: "Scottish Borders Council remains committed to the re-opening of the station at Reston. There has been some doubt as to whether the local councils or the Government would be funding the next stage of this project but I am delighted that the Transport Minister has now made it absolutely clear that the Government will be paying for the development study.
"The Minister has suggested that he will give the go ahead for this shortly and the study should be completed within 12 months."
Vice chairman of RAGES Barrie Forrest added: "I welcome the continued support of John Lamont and Iain Gray for the local train services and new stations at Reston and East Linton.
"I emphasised to the Transport Minister that many Berwickshire residents feel that they are often forgotten about when it comes to public investment.
"However, I believe that there was positive news from the Minister that progress will soon be made."
The development study will look at costings and demand prior to making a recommendation as to whether or not the project is viable. If the study has a positive outcome then the project will have reached the stage where it can be considered for inclusion in the next Scot Rail Franchise extension which is due for renewal in 2014.
John Lamont: "It is hoped to be at the sign-off stage of the development study in 12 months time, and at the end of that they will decide whether to include it in the new ScotRail franchise extension in 2014.
"Even if the minister said today he was going to open the station, construction wouldn't take too long but training all drivers takes 18 months."
RAGES have been campaigning for improved rail services on the east coast line for many years and in 2002 they presented a 1,862 signature petition to the Scottish Parliament.
They gained the support of both Scottish Borders Council and East Lothian Council and reinstatement of the railway station at Reston was recommended in the Scottish Borders Structure Plan 2001-2011.
And the project is described in the Scottish Borders Council Local Plan as " a long term proposal and dependant on central government funding".
In May last year the leader of Scottish Borders Council, Councillor David Parker, reiterated the council's support for re-opening the station at Reston and said: "Scottish Borders Council is completely committed to the reintroduction of rail services at Reston.
"With the support of the Scottish Government, rail services could return to Reston in a relatively short time and at a modest cost, when compared with other developments on the railways in Scotland at present."
Following a feasiblity study a Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance 1 was completed in October 2005 and all the signs were looking good that re-opening Reston Station was becoming a serious proposition.
Progress to the more in-depth Scottish Transport study ( STAG 2), however, has been disappointingly slow due to the Government's insistence on waiting for the results of other studies - the Scottish Rail Planning Assessment and Route Utilisation Strategy (Scotland).
The Transport Minister visited the site of Reston station in August last year to see for himself its potential and at a further meeting last week he announced the Government's commitment to the development which should mean that a STAG 2 study will not be necessary, provided the development study is in-depth enough to answer all the questions that would be raised during the second stage of the appraisal process.
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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