Nestrans have submitted a bid for funding to study the potential for new station sites in the south of Aberdeen.

The bid, submitted to the Scottish Government’s Local Rail Development Fund, would also help to consider the potential for optimising a local Cross-Aberdeen Rail Service.

Currently between Aberdeen and Laurencekirk on the East Coast mainline, a stretch of approximately 32 miles, there are three stations serving passengers, in addition to Aberdeen itself.

The population of the area is around 69,000 people – 42,000 in Kincardine & Mearns and a further 27,000 in south Aberdeen.

Sites in the south of the city would be investigated due to the increasing population.

Between 2012 and 2017, the population of Kincardine and Mearns grew by 4.7%, making it one of the fastest growing areas in Aberdeenshire.

Nestrans have previously been successful in their bid requests to Scottish Government’s Local Rail Development Fund in 2018 and received a contribution of £25,000 towards an appraisal study to outline options for improving access to Insch railway station for people with mobility issues.

Councillor Peter Argyle, Nestrans chairman: “If we are successful in our bid it would allow us to investigate suitable locations for potential new stations in Cove, Altens and Newtonhill as well as other options. The proposed project seeks to improve access to the rail network, thus enabling modal shift from road to rail, which would result in economic and environmental benefits.”

“With the growing population in the area this will be welcome news to the local residents. Nestrans and the local authorities have had long-standing plans to develop better rail services. The recent introduction of ‘Revolution in Rail’ separating long distance from local services as well as the ongoing investment in dualling the line between Inverurie and Aberdeen, provides the opportunity for this local service and enables consideration of whether further rail stations would enhance the viability and operation of such a service.”