The reopening of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line could be given the go-ahead next year following the bill being lodged with the parliament.

The route reopening project will revitalise 13 miles of disused and abandoned railway line, extending rail passenger services to Alloa and reopening a key freight line to Longannet Power Station in Fife, and beyond.

The reopened route is set to deliver a range of economic, social and environmental benefits to the area.

While coal to Longannet Power Station is currently delivered by road and rail, once the rail link is re-established, up to 80% of coal – around 16,800 tonnes per day – may be transferred to rail. This will effectively remove hundreds of lorries from Scotland’s roads every day.

The private bill is the first piece of rail infrastructure legislation to go before the parliament and represents a major milestone in the progress of the programme.

The bill itself is expected to be formally introduced to parliament in late March, before the current session of parliament is dissolved.

The initial process is then expected to be completed in April when Clackmannanshire Council votes a second time to formally promote the Bill.

Once introduced to parliament, the bill and environmental statement will be open to public scrutiny. A committee will then be formed to examine the bill in detail and members of the public will be given their opportunity to have a say on the project.

It is hoped the committee will report back to parliament in early 2004, with Royal Assent for the bill expected to follow soon afterwards.

A project spokesperson said: The lodging of the draft private bill with the Scottish Parliament is by far the most important stage in the project’s development to date.

There has already been a tremendous amount of interest in the project and the submission of the draft bill this week will undoubtedly raise anticipation in the local communities still further.

We have waited for the environmental impact statement to be finalised before submitting the bill, and Clackmannashire Council will now be able to study this before they vote to confirm their willingness to proceed with the project.

We are confident that should the bill receive Royal Assent, the route will play a major part in revitalising the economy and generating renewed interest in the area.

The Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine route reopening scheme is being developed by a steering group comprising the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise, the Strategic Rail Authority, Clackmannanshire Council, Fife Council and Stirling Council.

As part of the project, there are plans to construct a new station in Alloa town centre and operate hourly passenger services between Alloa, Stirling and Glasgow Queen Street.

Freight services will primarily deliver coal by rail to Longannet power station, removing freight from the Forth rail bridge and improving the operation of the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line.

The proposed route will follow the existing railway line from Stirling station through Alloa, Clackmannan and Kincardine.

Track will be upgraded and re-laid along the entire length of the route. The programme will also involve significant improvements to bridges and level crossings, sensitive landscaping and extensive safety works.

A website devoted to the project – www.sakrailway.co.uk - has recently gone online, offering local residents and interested parties news and information on the latest developments on the initiative.

Information from the BIG partnership on behalf of Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine Project Steering Group.

More info: Gavin Cameron, the BIG partnership 0141 333 9585 / 07968 495089.