Lothian could be on track to win a share of a new £2 million Local Rail Development Fund set up during the Scottish Greens’ negotiations with the Scottish Government over the 2018-19 budget.
The fund is open for bids until Friday 8 June, with community groups and transport partnerships in Edinburgh and Lothian able to apply for funding to help them progress the business cases for new stations and lines.
In a briefing published by the Scottish Greens, Alison Johnstone MSP and Andy Wightman MSP highlight suggestions from campaign group Railfuture Scotland for new stations in Abbeyhill, Portobello and Winchbrugh, with a total of 50 potential new stations across Scotland.
Green MSP Alison Johnstone said: “Improving Lothian connections to the rail network will boost our economy and help reduce climate change emissions by providing people with an alternative to car journeys.
This £2million fund is a great opportunity for community groups in Lothian and I hope they get their bids in before the deadline on Friday 8 June.”
Andy Wightman MSP added: “By influencing the government’s strategy for rail investment, Green MSPs are ensuring communities can be well connected while accelerating Scotland’s low-carbon transition so our infrastructure is fit for the future.
“Access to public transport is a social justice issue and establishing this fund shows Greens are determined to deliver better public transport in Lothian and to make Scotland fairer.”
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