The North Lanarkshire Council has submitted tenders for a report to identify if additional railway stations are needed.

A Strategic Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) report will be carried out for each station.

The locations are Abronhill, Glenboig and Plains.

The Council expects to appoint a company to conduct the report in May.

An assessment will be included in the report detailing transport-related issues, as well as an economic assessment of any transport initiatives, including their cost.

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If it is concluded a rail station will be a positive option, further analysis will be carried out to assess the impact on the wider rail network. The cost of providing a station will also be investigated.

Graham MacKay, Head of Roads and Transportation, said: "Our reports indicated that creating stations at Abronhill, Glenboig and Plains would help address issues of deprivation, high unemployment and access to jobs and education, as well as being technically feasible.

"The Scottish Government advised us that a STAG report is required before they can consider using the Scottish Stations Fund. So we will be appointing a company to do the specialist research and assessment work required and then use the report to bid from money from the Fund."

It is expected to take a maximum of 12 months to complete the reports.

(LM/CD)