Opening a rail ink in the growing West Lothian town of Winchburgh could take almost half a million journeys off the already congested corridor into the capital, it has been claimed.
The drive to net zero emissions may be the trump card for Winchburgh Developments in its drive to secure a new railway station from the growing town.
Responding to a consultation on improving roads and travel along the corridor from Broxburn into Edinburgh, the team behind the creation of West Lothian’s newest town poured scorn on proposals for improved bus services.
It highlighted the problems in securing bus provision to the rest of the county- something only just reintroduced after four months with a new subsidy.
Winchburgh Developments Ltd (WDL) submitted its proposals as part of a response to a consultation launched by The City of Edinburgh Council into ways to improve active travel between Broxburn and Maybury roundabout on the western fringe of the capital.
John Hamilton the chief Executive of WDL said that re-opening a railway station in Winchburgh would ensure the country would take a “giant leap” towards its net-zero emissions goal.
A new station would take an estimated 1,658 cars journeys off the road per day, which totals 419,490 annually.
Mr Hamilton said: “Removing almost half a million cars from some of the busiest rush-hour corridors in the country represents a significant benefit, not only in terms of speed of travel and convenience to commuters but as a giant leap towards Scotland’s net-zero emissions target date of 2045”
Winchburgh is already on railway timetables though trains do not stop at the abandoned Victorian station. The developers have already earmarked sites for an integrated travel hub in the centre of the expanded village.
In the consultation response WDL said: “The proposed rail station will form part of a sustainable transport network and will be co- located with a new mobility hub adjacent to a new town centre incorporating active travel links including e-bike provision, EV charging and bus public transport links. It will encourage and promote walking, wheeling, cycling and link to public transport networks (both local and regional).
WDL added: “The principal concern raised by Winchburgh Developments Limited (WDL) is that the proposed improvements are restricted only to a fixed road corridor on the approach to the City from the west. They do not encourage active travel, relying predominantly on carriage widening and bus provision.
“The proposed limited cyclist improvements may bring partial benefits to those areas closest to the City but, by prioritising bus provision will do little or nothing to encourage cycling from other areas further west.”
Highlighting problems seen across Scotland with commercial bus operators WDL added: “In order to replace the bus link from Livingston to Winchburgh West Lothian Council has recently committed up to £422,875 from WDL’s Public Transport Section75 Contributions to pump-prime a new service to be operated for a minimum of one year by Lothian Country.
By Stuart Somerville Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
