West Lothian Council issued planning consent for a new railway station at Winchburgh earlier this week.
This follows a period of activity by partners including Winchburgh Developments Ltd, Transport Scotland, Network Rail, SEStran and West Lothian Council to get to the point of having a detailed business case for the station.
The outline business case, which is currently being reviewed by Transport Scotland, shows that the station would have very positive benefits in terms of carbon reduction mainly because people in Winchburgh would have an alternative to using their cars.
Planning consent for the new station, which is located adjacent to the new Winchburgh Town Centre, also includes a park and ride and electric vehicle charging points. The platforms on the Edinburgh – Linlithgow – Glasgow / Stirling line will be capable of accommodating trains of six carriages.
How the station will be paid for is still to be determined but granting of planning consent allows the council, with the help of its partners, to make a funding bid to Scottish Ministers. It is expected that partners will finalise that bid next month.
Executive Councillor for the Environment & Sustainability Tom Conn said: “I am sure this important step will be warmly welcomed by local residents. It’s extremely encouraging to see this project continuing to move forward at pace this year which reflects the positive collaboration between all parties. A station would bring lasting benefits to Winchburgh and surrounding communities – increasing sustainable travel options, supporting the local economy and connecting people to opportunities.”
John Hamilton, CEO of Winchburgh Developments Ltd said: “Securing planning consent is a huge step forward for Winchburgh and brings us closer to realising the full vision for our growing community. As we expand from around 6,500 to 14,000 residents, the new station will be a game-changer, connecting people more easily, easing pressure on local roads and helping us move towards a cleaner, greener future. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners to take the next vital steps towards getting construction underway and making this exciting project a reality.”
Catherine Hall, Strategy and Investment Director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “We welcome the decision to grant planning permission for the proposed station at Winchburgh, which aims to improve transport links for the growing community. It’s encouraging to see the project reach this stage and it reflects the hard work behind the scenes across all organisations involved. We’ll continue to work closely with partners as plans progress.”
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