CRAIG Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, has welcomed “significant progress” on the opening of East Linton Station after he visited the site of the station which is currently under construction by Network Rail.

Work to open a railway station in East Linton began in 2020 following the publication of a report by the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership in 2013 which proposed the reopening of East Linton Station and Reston Station in the Scottish Borders following their initial closure in 1964.

East Linton Station was closed after the first Beeching Report which resulted in the closure of 2,363 train stations and 5,000 miles of railway line across Great Britain.

The forthcoming reopened East Linton Station will welcome an estimated 350 passengers per day, equivalent to 125,000 passengers per year.

The station is set to open before March 2024 following completion of the associated car park.

In the coming months, Mr Hoy will continue to closely follow development of the planned car park, which will offer active travel opportunities, and the proposed bridge over the railway to replace the level-crossing at Markle Steading (located 1-mile north-west of East Linton).

The Conservative MSP said: “I am pleased to see works on East Linton Station near their completion and welcome the significant progress made by Network Rail.

“Network Rail have been incredibly forthcoming with the local community throughout the development of the station: publishing a regular newsletter to update residents on the progress made and making adjustments to take into account residents’ concerns, including installing soundproofing on the site.

“The new station will offer a fantastic opportunity for residents to access fast, convenient and sustainable travel opportunities to Edinburgh, London and further afield – opening up a world of possibilities for East Linton and putting the village on the map for day-trippers and tourists travelling on the East Coast Mainline.”