The campaign to reopen the railway line between Leven and Thorton has gathered pace with the backing of a Fife MSP.

SNP member Tricia Marwick hopes to convince the transport minister to reopen the line and provide a service to Edinburgh

She said the project would cost £20 million as tracks and signals still in place from when the line carried freight to Methil docks would need to be upgraded from the decay in recent years from lack of use.

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The MSP said: "It would be very simple to reopen it because it's never been closed.

"This line is still intact. It is still, in terms of Network Rail, a working railway for freight."

David Chalmers, of FSB Fife, believes reopening the line could bring Leven economic benefits: "Providing that there is easy access in and out of the region then it is going to encourage businesses large and small to think about relocating along to Leven."

A separate campaign to reinstate the branch line between Leuchars and St Andrews is also running.

(GK/JM)