Winchburgh Train Station
A meeting between Transport Scotland, Winchburgh Developments, Network Rail and the Scottish Government's Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity was held yesterday (Wednesday 17 April).
The meeting was arranged and facilitated by West Lothian Council to discuss how a train station in Winchburgh can be delivered as quickly as possible.
Depute Council Leader Kirsteen Sullivan, who chaired the meeting, said: "We share the frustration felt by many local residents and we have consistently supported the creation of a new Winchburgh Train Station, but it is outwith the remit of a local authority to deliver railway stations.
"Transport Scotland and Network Rail are critical to the delivery of the station and that is why we sought to facilitate a meeting between them, the Minister and other key partners to discuss a way forward. It's vital that Transport Scotland promote the delivery of the station in order to progress to the next step and that they work with key delivery partners to deliver the station as quickly as possible.
"Winchburgh is a core development area and delivering a new station, as planned, would improve public transport links for the expanding village, providing better opportunities for accessing work, services and leisure."
She added:
"Transport Scotland advised us that no complete Business Plan or Design is in place for the station. "This was new information and we were disappointed to hear that these obstacles still exist, in addition to their being no funding solution in place.
"It had been our understanding that some of those obstacles had been overcome.
"We have invited the Minister, in consultation with the lead developer, to examine how the necessary funding can be secured.
"The lead developer has indicated that they would be willing to partially fund a train station and we have put forward the case for the Scottish Government to utilise funding identified in the City Region Deal as one potential solution to fund any remaining deficit, but there may well be other options available to the Government. We have asked the Scottish Government to consider all potential options and meet with us and key partners again in six weeks in an effort to help progress the development of a train station in Winchburgh."
