AN ESTIMATED £400,000 is required to design a re-opened railway station at East Linton.

The station, along with another at Reston, in the Scottish Borders, could re-open by the end of December 2016.

Between £300,000 and £400,000 will be needed to be set aside for the development costs of the East Lothian station – before work on site can begin.

A similar amount is required for Reston by Scottish Borders Council. The two stations were closed after the Beeching Report in 1964.

However, timings for stops at East Linton were part of a new planned timetable, released earlier this year, after Dutch firm Abellio won the ScotRail franchise – they will take over services from April next year.

Councillors discussed the station, which closed 50 years ago this year, at a full council meeting in Haddington on Tuesday.

They agreed to seek council support and agreement to fund the development costs necessary to fully design a new East Linton station for further consideration, in line with Network Rail Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process.

Alan Stubbs, the council’s service manager for roads, said: “Given the level of investment involved in the design process, the councils have sought reassurance and commitment from the Scottish Government that funding will be available, and are also seeking clarity around the timing of any confirmation of funding, particularly if the timescales which have been set out are to be achieved.” Councillor Norman Hampshire, one of the three Dunbar and East Linton ward members at the meeting, stressed that the local authority remained committed to bringing a railway station back to the village.

He said: “We are 100 per cent committed to the delivery but I don’t think we can commit any amount of money until we know what the full costs are.” Mr Hampshire also felt a solution in terms of financing the station could come in the form of development.

A railway station is also planned for Winchburgh, in West Lothian. Mr Hampshire told members that funding for that station had come from developer contributions when new properties were being built.

Ward colleague Councillor Michael Veitch has also been heavily involved in the bid to see a station back at East Linton. He has regularly met with RAGES (Rail Action Group East of Scotland), which he praised for their continued efforts.

He said: “This new service will be of great benefit to my constituents. The focus now returns to the construction of the stations.” Mr Veitch acknowledged a great deal of work had been carried out to reach this stage, while more work would be needed to see the station become a reality.

Similarly, he felt a re-opened East Linton station would not only benefit the local community but also businesses and visitors to the county.

He added: “East Lothian Council has been working extremely hard to get the station at East Linton reopened, including seeking external funding and providing support for the station within the council’s capital plan.

“There is still significant work to be done, including a substantial commitment to fund the detailed designing of the station, and we are seeking reassurance and reciprocal commitment from the Scottish Government that funding for the station will be available following this significant investment.

“We are also seeking clarity around the timing of any confirmation of funding, particularly if the ambitious timescales which have been set out are to be achieved.”