Living in a small village is all well and good until you realise that public transport is practically non-existent. It’s either get your driver’s licence, wait around for the area’s only taxi or hope a family member will accept the position as your chauffeur.
Luckily for them, residents of East Linton in Scotland won’t have to worry about that anymore. Train services to and from the village were scrapped back in 1964, with the original train station transformed into a home. It’s been without rail services ever since – until now.
The first train in 60 years rocked up to the village on Wednesday (December 13) after its new £15m railway station was officially opened. It will connect East Linton to Edinburgh Waverley via a quick 22 minute journey (as opposed to 40 minutes by car). ScotRail and Trans Pennine Express will both operate there, with 22 services expected each weekday, 23 on Saturdays and nine on Sundays.
The station’s launch marks the completion of the latest investment in Scottish railways. Fiona Hyslop, minister for transport said: ‘The new East Linton station is the latest example of this Scottish Government’s commitment to building and investing in Scotland’s Railway.
‘Our aim is to encourage more people out of their car and on to sustainable public transport.
‘The station will open up education, leisure, and business opportunities for East Linton’s growing community, while also offering greener ways to travel as we work towards our ambitious net zero goals.’
Rail revival
Over the past year, Time Out has written about loads of places where train travel is being brought back to life. Barnsley in Yorkshire is getting a dazzling new heritage railway, another Yorkshire heritage railway will soon become a commuter route and this much-missed northern railway line will be reopening after 60 years in 2024. We’re not done. This gorgeous pier railway has just reopened on the Isle of Wight and UK’s highest railway is finally reopened to the public. Locomotive lovers – go loco.
Did you see that it’s now illegal to park on the pavement in Scotland?
Plus: here’s how locals are planning to stop the controversial Stonehenge tunnel.
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