COUNTY commuters could be set for a major boost after a study commissioned by Transport Scotland showed a positive business case for a railway station at East Linton as part of an improved Dunbar local service.

Politicians and action groups are hopeful that more frequent services to Dunbar could be in place from December 2012 - while a new East Linton station could be open as early as 2014.

The enthusiasm comes as First ScotRail plans to introduce a new 10.06pm Saturday service from Edinburgh to Dunbar from December. The last Saturday train to Dunbar currently leaves the Capital at 7pm.

And, in a further boost, East Lothian Council is working with SESTran (South East of Scotland Transport Partnership) to explore the possibility of re-opening a railway line to serve Haddington, with consultants set to look into the technical issues.

If the outcome of that is positive, further work into the financial viability of the line and community consultation will take place. The former Longniddry to Haddington branch line closed in 1968.

The Transport Scotland rail study, conducted by MVA Consultancy and published last Friday, looked into options of enhancing rail services on the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh and Newcastle.

It found there was a "marginally positive case" for introducing a new Dunbar rail service, if a new station at East Linton is opened.

Currently, First ScotRail only runs four daily services between Dunbar and Edinburgh in each direction, with Musselburgh the only stop en route.

However, a new local service could call at all East Lothian stations between Edinburgh and Dunbar, including East Linton. Land has already been designated by East Lothian Council for a new halt and car park at East Linton, adjacent to Orchardfield.

East Linton's former railway station - which is now privately owned - closed in 1964.

The council now must further investigate the economic benefits of new services for Dunbar and East Linton, while Councillor Paul McLennan - council leader and ward member for Dunbar and East Linton - and colleagues will meet with Transport Minister Keith Brown in the near future.

If Mr Brown is convinced by the need for the new services, he will take the case to Transport Scotland.

Mr McLennan believes a new station at East Linton could be open by 2014 - when the ScotRail franchise is up for renewal - and improved Dunbar services could be included in First ScotRail's timetable from December 2012.

"Mr Brown has encouraged us to further investigate the benefits of new rail services for Dunbar and East Linton," Mr McLennan said.

"I will continue to host our regular meetings with RAGES (Rail Action Group, East of Scotland), SESTran and politicians in order to progress our case. I am optimistic we can deliver on new services." Iain Gray, East Lothian MSP, said the findings take the county "one step closer" to improved services.

"I think there is a great deal of unmet demand for rail travel in our county," he said.

The study found there was track availability for up to 17 northbound services from Dunbar per day and 23 southbound trains from Edinburgh to the town.

Mr Gray added: "The report cautions it might only be practical to add eight journeys per day in both directions. That would still represent a major improvement." RAGES, which has campaigned since 1999 for a re-opened station at East Linton and improved east coast services, said it was "excited" by the study's results.

Tom Thorburn, the group's chair, added: "We are hoping to have a meeting with the [Transport] Minister in the next few weeks to convince him this is the right [way forward] and that we are going to get the money [for the new stations/services] instead of it going to other projects." Judith Priest, Dunpender Community Council chair said: "We've been asking for and working towards this in East Linton for 30 years. It's something we would really like to have, because at the moment we've just got the rather poor bus service." Dunbar community councillor Kilvert Croft added: "I think it's good for the town and the environment."