NEW railway stations could be built and others refurbished with a £30 million investment fund launched by Transport Minister Keith Brown yesterday.
Speaking during a visit to Alloa station, which re-opened nearly four years ago, he invited councils, regional transport partnerships and developers to submit proposals for how to spend the cash over the next five years.
The announcement appeared to open the door to campaigners who are pressing for more regional stations to be added to the Scottish rail network, despite the reluctance of rail planners to add to train journey times.
The Herald revealed in February demands for 12 stations to be built as part of the £1 billion Edinburgh Glasgow Investment Programme and Hitrans, the transport partnership for the Highlands, last week unveiled plans to draw up designs for a new stop at Conon Bridge on the Far North Line near Inverness.
Mr Brown said: "The £30m Scottish Stations Investment Fund will give existing stations a major makeover and see the Scottish Government put money towards new stations alongside local authorities, transport partnerships and developers.
"New and better stations are a major part of attracting more people on to our rail services and providing sustainable, integrated and cost-effective alternatives to the private car."
A spokeswoman for the Transport Minister said yesterday no decision had yet been made on how the funding would be used.
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