New rail link exceeds expectation

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

A survey into the popularity of the new Alloa rail link has shown the number of passengers exceeded all expectation.

The research, conducted by South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SESTran), said more than 400,000 were expected to use the service this year.

That figure is more than twice the original estimate of 155,000 passengers.

The service, re-introduced on 19 May, has also cut car journeys in and out of Alloa by more than 100,000.

The study showed that almost half of passengers using the link were travelling to Stirling.

A third used it to travel to Glasgow, while just under a quarter were going to Edinburgh and other destinations.

'Local demand'

A spokesman for SESTran said: "The incredible success of Alloa station is excellent news.

"It is proof-positive that when people have the option of a high-quality public transportation service, they will use it in preference to the car.

"The figures suggest that over a 12-month period the new station will deal with up to 400,000 rail journeys.

"Of these 100,000 will be passengers who would otherwise have gone by car. That's a lot of cars off the roads, and a major contribution towards reducing South East Scotland's carbon footprint."

Alloa train station was re-opened after a break of 40 years when a 13-mile stretch of existing, disused and abandoned railway line between Stirling and Longannet Power Station in Kincardine was reinstated.

Clackmannanshire councillor Eddie Carrick, the authority's sustainability portfolio holder, said: "We knew there was a lot of demand locally and that has been proven by these figures.

"Along with the Clackmannanshire Bridge, the railway has really put Clackmannanshire on the map.

"Short travel times via these new links to Edinburgh and Glasgow have opened up possibilities for investment and business.

"We look forward to many more people using Alloa station in the future."