Published: Thursday, 7th August, 2008 9:10am

On the right tracks

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A BID to reopen East Linton"s mothballed railway station - disused for more than four decades - has made positive tracks this week following a visit from transport minister, Stewart Stevenson.

Mr Stevenson took a whirlwind tour of Dunbar and East Linton rail sites on Tuesday morning to examine the case for a localised service from Edinburgh-Dunbar and the reopening of East Linton station.

Around 20 potential railway sites, including East Linton, have been earmarked by Scottish ministers as part of a strategic transport review of train services but it is too early to say whether the economic argument to reopen the village railway station - estimated to cost £2.7 million - can be won.

The transport minister admitted that the economic case had 'further building to go' and he would need to see a long-term commitment to greater housing development in the village to make a new rail link viable.

But he added there were no 'major obstacles' to the reintroduction an East Linton station and it remained a distinct 'possibility.'

Mr Gray said the drive to reopen the village railway station - which closed in 1964 - had taken a 'step forward'.