Published: Thursday, 11th June, 2009 6:00am

Dunbar train plans are driven off the rails

TRANSPORT Minister Stewart Stevenson will meet a group of Dunbar railway champions - following calls from county MSP Iain Gray - after it emerged the station would be overlooked for much-coveted improvements for at least 18 months.

Hopes of an on-the-hour rail service between Dunbar and Edinburgh - doubling the current provision - were raised last August after transport supremo Mr Stevenson MSP visited Dunbar and the mothballed East Linton station to consider enhancing rail links to the Capital.

Rising demand had prompted Transport Scotland - a Scottish Government agency - to launch a feasibility study on the prospect of doubling provision from Dunbar and reopening links with East Linton.

But last week a report by the national transport agency revealed additional trains between Dunbar and Edinburgh would not be introduced before December 2010.

Scottish Labour leader and East Lothian MSP Iain Gray described the news as 'extremely disappointing' and said he was 'very surprised' other Scottish rail projects had 'jumped ahead of East Lothian proposals which were already well advanced'.

'The cost [of additional trains] is a fraction of many of the other projects, yet many of the others are already under way. Dunbar commuters are being told they will have to wait over a year and a half before even these minor improvements are considered.'

He added that the possibility of East Linton"s train station reopening had been 'kicked into the long grass' for at least five years.

'The delegation will explain to the minister that Dunbar is a rapidly expanding town and it needs the transport infrastructure to keep pace with its rate of development,' said Mr Gray.

A Scottish Government spokesman confirmed Mr Stevenson"s intention to meet with the local delegation and said an Edinburgh to Berwick corridor - including hourly stops in Dunbar - would be considered after additional services between Edinburgh and Dunbar were implemented in 2010.

'We are determined to identify what further improvements can be provided, and have secured the option to enable First ScotRail to operate additional services during the week which will require additional rolling stock and staff training,' said the spokesman.

'Transport Scotland will shortly begin consultation with stakeholders to evaluate these additional services and it is hoped they can be implemented in the December 2010 timetable change.

'Following implementation of the additional services in 2010 between Edinburgh and Dunbar, a study into the benefits of an hourly Dunbar to Edinburgh service will be undertaken which will also consider the needs of the Edinburgh to Berwick-Upon-Tweed corridor more generally.'