CRAIG Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, and Donna Collins, a Conservative Councillor for Dunbar and East Linton ward, have raised concerns about a potential lack of rail services stopping at East Linton station.
The £15 million facility features two platforms and 114 car parking spaces, with rail services set to call at the village from 13 December. It will be the first time in 59 years that passengers will be able to board a train from East Linton.
While some ScotRail and Transpennine services are set to call at the station, nearly half of all rail services travelling through East Linton between Dunbar and Edinburgh will not stop at the new station.
On weekdays, 9 services will depart from East Linton and 12 services will operate the return journey from Edinburgh. This compares to 18 outbound services from Dunbar to Edinburgh and 21 return services on weekdays.
Craig Hoy MSP said: “I very much welcome the new station at East Linton, which was intended to serve commuters and visitors to East Lothian and I look forward to the opening next month. However, I am concerned that the proposed rail timetable for East Linton is deficient.
“The timetable includes a 5-hour gap between evening services heading into Edinburgh as well as a 3-hour gap between evening services returning to East Linton. There will also be gaps of up to 2 hours for morning and afternoon rail services between Edinburgh and East Linton.
“This could make planning a night-out in Edinburgh or organising a return journey from the city for evening commuters difficult, and may lead to more car journeys.
“I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and am urgently calling for a review of the proposed timetable.”
Councillor Donna Collins said: “As the owner of Scotrail, the Scottish Government must ensure that the new East Linton train station has an adequate number of rail services for residents to utilise.
“East Linton, like so much of the county, has seen a substantial increase in the number of newly built properties and it is important for the Scottish Government to work to mitigate against added pressures to East Lothian’s road network due to population growth by improving public service provision sufficiently for places like East Linton.”
