Scottish Transport Minister Tavish Scott has viewed track laying on new Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line. The Minister said that the new line delivers on the partnership commitment to get more freight off our roads and onto our rail network and would deliver major economic, social and environmental benefits to the local communities of Stirling, Alloa and Kincardine.

Speaking as he helped lay the first track, Mr Scott said that the affects of the project will be felt more widely, as it will also help grow the Scottish economy. Tavish Scott said:"This is an important day for the communities of Stirling, Alloa and Kincardine. The start of track laying gives them a visible sign that this project is up and running and is on its way. "This is one of the most important infrastructure projects Scotland has seen in decades, and the significance of this project extends beyond Stirling, Alloa and Kincardine. The whole of Scotland is set to benefit. "It will not only deliver major economic, social and environmental benefits to the local communities involved, but it will take more freight off Scotland's roads and onto our rail network, meaning less damage to the environment and less congestion on our roads. "It will help grow the Scottish economy, bringing faster, more efficient freight routes for UK companies, attract more businesses to central Scotland and Fife, and increase access to jobs, education and health services."

The line will:
• introduce passenger services between Stirling and Alloa, reconnecting Alloa to the national rail network for the first time since 1968
• take freight trains off the Forth Rail Bridge, paving the way for improved Fife - Edinburgh passenger services
• provide a faster, more efficient freight route for coal from Ayrshire (open cast & imported) to Longannet Power Station.

The cost of the project is £65-70 million. Pre-track laying preparation/construction began in October 2005. The track is due to open in Summer 2007.

The project is being taken forward by a project delivery team made up of members from a variety of interested organisations including Clackmannanshire Council, Fife Council, Stirling Council, the Scottish Executive, and Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley, with assistance from tie Limited, Jacobs Babtie, First Nuttall Joint Venture and Network Rail.

The project will re-open approximately 21 km of existing, disused and abandoned railway lines between Stirling Station and Longannet Power Station in Kincardine.

A new railway station will be built in Alloa town centre, allowing direct hourly passenger services to operate between Alloa, Stirling and Glasgow Queen Street Stations. Changing trains at Stirling Station will allow passengers to travel onwards to and from Edinburgh Waverley Station.

As well as re-introducing passenger services between Alloa and Stirling, the line will also carry coal from the West of Scotland to Longannet Power Station in Fife and possibly freight services to other customers along the line, and in Fife. As more freight is transferred from road to rail, there will be benefits including a reduction in road congestion, a reduction in rail congestion on the Forth Bridge and an increase in Alloa's accessibility and attractiveness to potential investors.