THIS week, ScotRail Trains takes a step forward for sustainable transport, bringing back national train services into public ownership.

The Scottish Government opened the Borders Railway in 2015, addressing decades of decline. 1960s cuts to services closed around half of UK stations, including East Linton, East Fortune and the branch line to Aberlady and Gullane. Westminster prioritised private cars and road haulage, decisions which the climate change emergency now shows to have been damaging to the environment.

British Rail’s 1993 privatisation involved multiple, often short-lived, operators and led to unreliable services, expensive and complicated ticketing, and crowded commuter trains. Climate change demands shifts back to truly public transport, benefiting the public.

When I was first elected as a councillor in 2007, I set up a cross-party, cross-agency steering group to look at opening a station at East Linton. It’s fantastic to see construction continue, with re-opening planned for mid-2023. I am also advocating for a station at Haddington and have held positive discussions with East Lothian Council and Transport Scotland on this issue. More on this soon.

Reducing car use requires that public transport is viable: an attractive, efficient, reliable, frequent, and affordable first choice. Greater rail connectivity between Newcastle, East Lothian, Edinburgh and Glasgow will not only encourage business expansion but also serve local residents and those visiting friends and family, or holidaying in East Lothian, having coastal days out, or enjoying rural ‘agritourism’ based in farming areas.

Sustainable transport is already preferred by many when on holiday. Doing the same back home is the sustainable option, with integrated bus and rail links supplemented by Demand Responsive Transport (DRT). DRT ensures that remote areas without scheduled public services aren’t cut-off. Benefiting from available funding, Highland Council uses the DRT system as well as timetabled services. It’s possible to take a bus from East Lothian to Kinlochbervie and arrive by teatime; East Lothian’s picturesque villages, small towns and unspoilt greenspaces should be just as accessible by public transport.

I am also an advocate and support the Gullane-Drem pathway – and indeed mentioned the pathway last week in Parliament as a great example of connecting communities.

Sustainable transport connectivity within East Lothian, combined with reliable, sustainable services to outwith the county, are key to combating climate change, as well as economic sustainability and overall wellbeing. I intend to campaign, lead, support and encourage initiatives that take this agenda forward.