The appeal to reopen a passenger rail line from Alloa to Dunfermline is being taken to Transport Scotland.

The South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) has written to Transport Scotland and asked for a meeting to discuss the proposal.

SEStran, in partnership with Clackmannanshire and Fife Councils, commissioned Scott Wilson to undertake a transportation study with the key objectives of improving passenger transport links from Clackmannanshire and West Fife to Edinburgh and the west of Scotland.

Four possible options were identified in the study with the best performing option being the upgrading of the existing rail line to accommodate passenger trains and also incorporating the construction of a Charlestown Chord.

SEStran's Director Alex Macaulay has now written to Transport Scotland asking that the government agency meet SEStran and Clackmannanshire and Fife Councils and engage in "serious discussion" about the issue.

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Councillor Eddie Carrick, Sustainability Portfolio Holder and Director of the SEStran Board, said: "The success of the Stirling-Alloa passenger service, which has been exceedingly popular, encouraged us to consider extending the service east to link with Edinburgh and Rosyth. I believe a new Charlestown Chord to be a strong option and would allow even more Clackmannanshire residents to choose the train for their journeys.

"However, this project has not been properly considered within the Scottish Government's Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which sets out the future investment programme for transport in Scotland over the next 20 years. This option has been costed at £110.8 million so we must engage in serious discussion with Transport Scotland about how it may sit relative to current STPR projects and any possible future review of the STPR."

Ochil and South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks has also thrown his weight behind the campaign.

Mr Banks said: "It is vitally important that the transport infrastructure in Clackmannanshire continues to improve. This will be beneficial for jobs, the economy and tourism.

"The benefits are many but we must also remember the impact that increased services can have on people living in close proximity to the line and do everything possible to mitigate the impact.

"There is obviously a lot of work to be done to convince the Scottish Government and its agencies on this matter but I hope that the request for "serious discussion" will be welcome and I look forward to progress being made to improve the transport links serving our county."

(GK/BMcC)