Alloa rail link could be extended

The rail link re-opened in May after a break of 40 years

The new Alloa rail link could be extended to Edinburgh, transport bosses have said.

The South East of Scotland Transport Partnership said a feasibility study into the viability of the plan would be carried out next year.

The Alloa service, which runs to Stirling, was re-opened to passengers on 19 May after a break of 40 years.

SEStran said the move was part of its strategy to encourage people to get out of their cars and use public transport.

The study will begin in early 2009 and is expected to take several months.

A spokesman for SEStran said the remit of the study had yet to be agreed upon but added that costs and the service's potential popularity were likely to be key considerations.

'Good news'

He said: "We are going to be carrying out a feasibility study into expanding the route to Edinburgh.

"We are looking at every possible option to improve public transport in this region."

Alloa train station was re-opened after a 13-mile stretch of existing, disused and abandoned railway line between Stirling and Longannet Power Station in Kincardine was reinstated.

Since its re-opening, the popularity of the service has surpassed the expectations of operators First Scotrail who said it has been attracting nearly 35,000 passengers a week.

A spokesman for First Scotrail said: "We are delighted with the community support for the new line.

"It has exceeded expectations and it is really good news that so many people are using the services and supporting rail travel.

"It's also good news for the environment as trains are less carbon intensive than cars."