A RAILWAY station at East Linton is on track to open within the next 12 months.

Discussions surrounding the return of a station to the village for the first time in nearly 60 years have been ongoing for more than a decade.

Work started on the site in 2020 and it has been confirmed that the station is due to open in March next year.

Craig Hoy, South Scotland MSP, welcomed “significant progress” after he visited the construction site and was given a tour by BAM Nuttall, the company responsible for constructing the station and neighbouring car park.

Mr Hoy said: “I am pleased to see works on East Linton Station near their completion and welcome the significant progress made by Network Rail.

“Network Rail have been incredibly forthcoming with the local community throughout the development of the station, publishing a regular newsletter to update residents on the progress made and making adjustments to take into account residents’ concerns, including installing soundproofing on the site.

“The new station will offer a fantastic opportunity for residents to access fast, convenient and sustainable travel opportunities to Edinburgh, London and further afield – opening up a world of possibilities for East Linton and putting the village on the map for day-trippers and tourists travelling on the East Coast Main Line.”

East Lothian Courier: East Linton's new railway station should be open by the end of March next year. Pictured, from left: Phil Pree (Bam Nuttall) and Craig Hoy MSP on the bridge of the station

Phil Pree (Bam Nuttall) and Craig Hoy MSP on the bridge of the station

The station shut in 1964 and the new station, which is on a different site, follows in the footsteps of a similar development at Reston in the Scottish Borders.

The forthcoming reopened East Linton Station will welcome an estimated 350 passengers per day, equivalent to 125,000 passengers per year.

The two-platform station, which is expected to cost about £15 million, also features a car park with 128 car parking spaces.

The station itself will be fully accessible, with lifts and a new footbridge connecting both platforms, and access for pedestrians and cyclists.

READ MORE: Footbridge installed at £15m new East Linton train station

Mr Hoy said he would continue to closely follow development of the planned car park, which will offer active travel opportunities, and the proposed bridge over the railway to replace the level crossing at Markle Steading.

Allison Cosgrove, vice-chairwoman of Dunpender Community Council, which covers East Linton, said that the work was coming on in “leaps and bounds”.

She was hopeful that the station could be open before March next year as issues with the level crossing at Markle could be resolved.

The community councillor was confident that the opening of the new station would also take cars off the road as people would use the train to travel to and from Edinburgh.