Blackridge rail station project can now go ahead.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has written to West Lothian Council Leader Peter Johnston confirming that the station will now be delivered as part of the Airdrie-Bathgate rail link programme.

"I am absolutely delighted that the Scottish Government has now confirmed to us that the funding gap has been closed and the Blackridge Station is actually going to happen," said Councillor Johnston. "A lot of very hard work has been carried out to reach this successful stage and that will continue to ensure that the Blackridge Station project is now delivered as planned."

Executive councillor for development and transport Martyn Day added: "The re-opening of the rail link between Bathgate and Airdrie will bring great benefits to West Lothian and I am really pleased that a new station at Blackridge will now be included in this vitally important project. The minister's commitment is conditional on developer contributions being secured and we expect the agreement on these contributions to be signed within the next few days."

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Councillor Isabel Hutton, who chairs the Armadale and Blackridge Local Area Committee, commented: "This is tremendous news for the people of Blackridge and the surrounding area. It is a real boost for the local community, who can now look forward to a station at Blackridge and a direct rail link with Glasgow and Edinburgh."

In his letter, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said that since the Scottish Government first announced that it would like to see a station delivered in Blackridge, at minimum cost to the public purse, his officials at Transport Scotland had been working to bridge the gap in funding between the estimated cost and the contribution the council expects to secure from a local developer.

"I welcome the work that has been done so far and would emphasise the importance of completing this work in order to allow Network Rail to deliver the station that we all want to see at Blackridge," he said.

(GK/JM)