Local people, rail users and interested parties are being invited to submit their views over the future of Breich station in West Lothian.

A 12-week consultation debating the station's future is to come to an end on Monday, 02 October.

The unmanned West Lothian station is currently served by one train service per day in each direction, six days a week. The official patronage figure for the station in 2015-16 was 138 passengers, an average of 2.6 passengers per week.

The route the station lies on, the Shotts line connecting Edinburgh and Glasgow Central station, is currently undergoing an electrification modernisation programme. Network Rail estimates it could save up to £1.4 million by closing the station rather than upgrading it.

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Once the consultation comes to an end, a final report will be produced by Network Rail on behalf of Transport Scotland. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) will confirm that the consultation complies with its guidance before the final decision on the station's future is made by Transport Scotland.

David Dickson, infrastructure director for the ScotRail Alliance, said: "We have held two drop-in sessions in the local community, sent letters to residents and have advertised this consultation widely. We want to ensure that anyone with an interest in the station has the opportunity to air their views before a consultation report is submitted to Transport Scotland for consideration.

"Network Rail takes pride in the role it has played in growing Scotland's Railway in recent years. Where there is proof of demand, such as the Airdrie-Bathgate route and along the Borders Railway, we have actively supported the opening of new stations and the reopening of old ones.

"As a responsible steward of the railway and a publicly run organisation, it is also Network Rail's responsibility to ensure that we consider value for money in relation to the operation of station and rail services. The current and projected demand for rail services to and from Breich is very low, so closure of the station must be considered as an option."

(LM/MH)