Political support unveils the new face of the campaign
A once derelict newsagent has been restored to become the focal point for the campaign to reopen the town’s train station.
Local politicians gathered on the High Street in Newburgh, Fife last Friday to pull back the curtains on a once derelict shop now transformed into the face of the train campaign.
It will serve as a reminder to the community and government that the fight for a reopened Newburgh station is very much alive. Cross party supporters MPs Wendy Chamberlain and Peter Wishart together with MSPs Willie Rennie, Mark Ruskell and Murdo Fraser unveiled the restored shopfront showcasing Campaign information, plans and promotions.
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Campaign member Karl Barrs, welcomed the political guests and spoke of how a station will let Newburgh thrive . “Supporters and representatives are united in their shared believe that Newburgh should be reconnected to Scotland’s rail network”, he said.
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Representatives were asked to pull back the curtains on the new shop display. They were then presented with a supersized campaign ticket and each given their own ticket as thanks for their campaign support.
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"There is full Cross party support for a reopened train station"
MSP Mark Ruskell
All political representatives spoke of their shared belief that the trains station should reopen. The town’s local MSP Willie Rennie stressed the importance of community and cross party support. “A reopened Newburgh station unites the town and all the political parties. They are all standing here, speaking with one voice”, he said. Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell spoke with certainly that a reopened Newburgh station was not a matter of ‘if but rather when’. ‘where are getting close and today is a key moment’, he said.
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Abandoned. The High Street newsagent closed back in 2017
Renovation. Campaign members set to work
Ready. The former shop has become the campaign display hub
MSP Mark Ruskell being interviewed
MSP Murdo Fraser being interviewed
MSP Willie Rennie with his Newburgh ticket
All stressed there was strong evidence that reopened lines and stations bring economic benefits and more. This will be true for Newburgh.
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North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain highlighted Levenmouth where the recently opened rail resulted in tangible economic growth. She believes this will be true for Newburgh and Abernethy too. “You will see families coming to live here, people looking to commute and more visitors and tourists coming to visit”, she said. “ With a station the country and investors see this Newburgh as somewhere going places”, added Rennie.
MSPs Mark Ruskell and Murdo Fraser envisaged families coming to live in the area and the chance for tourism to flourish. “Not everyone who visits Scotland has a car. A reopened train station in Newburgh opens up the town to those who would otherwise not want to come here” , said Murdo.
"A reopened Newburgh station is a bit of a no-brainer"
MSP Willie Rennie
The Newburgh Trains Station Campaign’s 15 year fight to reopen the rail station waits on the outcome of the government’s review of the new station business case. The review will decide if Newburgh gets a station or not. At the beginning of last year the government promised a speedy decision. 14 months on and the town still waits.
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For many a station is, as Willie Rennie and Mark Ruskell said ‘is a bit of a no-brainer’. The town simply asks for a small and affordable station. Campaign member Heike Bachelier makes the point. “38 trains run through the heart of the town each day. It is time for them to stop here and let Newburgh onboard”.
MP Wendy Chamberlain with her ticket to Newburgh
MSP Willie Rennie being interviewed
Campaigners Helen, Katie and Intrid
The shop
Campaign member Karl Barrs welcomes the political support