Scottish Government investment of £3.5m has seen the return of passenger trains to Laurencekirk for the first time in over 40 years.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said this brings substantial benefits to the local community.

The Minister was speaking as he reopened the station which had been left derelict following the Beeching cuts in the 1960s.

Mr Stevenson said: "The new station will provide a real boost to the local community delivering more trains and new services for commuters and improving access to jobs, education and leisure.

"This is clearly a special day for the people of Lawrencekirk and the surrounding area, particularly those who campaigned over the years to have their station reopened and I'm delighted to join their celebrations."

The Scottish Government are committed to making further improvements to Highland rail services.

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Through ambitious STPR they are fast tracking work on the Highland line which will result in reduced journey times and increased services between Aberdeen and Inverness. There are also plans to improve journey times between Aberdeen and the central belt and create a new station at Dalcross.

The Grade B listed station, left, has been transformed through a £3.5m investment with Scottish Government funding provided by Transport Scotland and NESTRANS, supported by Aberdeenshire Council and a Railway Heritage Trust grant.

Network Rail managed delivery of the project on Transport Scotland's behalf, with Galliford Try being awarded the design and build contract that included the refurbishment and restoration of the station building; a new accessible footbridge; two new platforms and installation of customer information systems.

The station waiting room includes original wooden features and British Rail posters reclaimed from the derelict building in addition to period fireplaces that are in keeping with the features.

A local secondary school, Mearns Academy, is providing artwork depicting the history of the station and area for the waiting room walls.

Ron McAulay, Network Rail Director Scotland added: "We are pleased to have been able to complete the project to the timescale we set and also to have found more than £400,000 in efficiency savings."

The new station will provide a direct public transport service and commuters will be able to take advantage of 11 services northbound and 10 services southbound daily during the week.

Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, said: "I am delighted that trains are back at Laurencekirk after an absence of more than four decades."

(GK/BMcC)