This week Grand Union officially submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road for a new service that would run four times a day between Stirling and London Euston, calling at Larbert, Greenfaulds, Whifflet, Motherwell, Lockerbie, Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes.

And the rail company said they are entering talks to see how Lockerbie railway station could be upgraded as part of the plans.

If the application is successful the service could start as early as May 2021, with the creation of about 100 new full time jobs along the route.

Grand Union director of marketing and development David Prescott said: “Each station has been chosen because of the benefits and opportunities it brings.

“Grand Union’s service will open up tourism opportunities, improve business options, provide new leisure travel opportunities and help reduce people’s reliance on air travel.

“We will be able to provide people a faster and more comfortable journey and eliminate the need to change trains by avoiding Glasgow and Edinburgh, meaning people will be able to complete the journey from Stirling to London in just over five and a half hours.