StARLink
The
St Andrews
Rail
Link Campaign
St Andrews was connected to the rail system from 1852 until
1969, when it fell a victim to British Rail's
indiscriminate cull of branch lines.
The StARLink
campaign was
launched in 1989 with a view to reconnecting the town to
the rail system in the interests of convenience for
travellers, the alleviation of traffic congestion and
reduction of car-generated pollution.
Since that time it has steadily built up support both in
and outwith St Andrews, lobbied politicians at all levels
and raised money for campaigning.
Some
Prominent Supporters
and what they say:
“I support calls for a feasibility study into restoring the
St Andrews railway.” -
Alex Salmond (November 1992), now First
Minister
"As a recognised tourist attraction the town deserves the
best possible transport links, On environmental grounds
greater emphasis should be placed on rail travel. A rail
ticket marked London to St Andrews would surely tempt many
foreign travellers." –
Rt. Hon. Sir Menzies Campbell MP
"I have long supported the idea of restoring a rail link to
St Andrews. The Open was a good illustration of the
necessity for such a link. It would constitute a
considerable improvement on the rail/bus interchange and
the clogged roads that golf fans, tourists and local
residents have to put up with at the moment." –
Iain Smith, former MSP
"St Andrews is getting overwhelmed by the cars of visitors,
students and locals. A railway line would improve the
situation and allow passengers to bypass the traffic jams
that happen at big events." –
Rail Future Scotland
"[Closing] the line from Leuchars to St Andrews [was] a
monstrous abolition" –
the late
Professor David Daiches
"St Andrews suffers from bad transport links ... it has
never been the same since the railway went." –
John Purves, former MEP
"St Andrews is not the easiest place to get into, with no
main motorway nor rail links coming directly into town.
Stuck out at the eastern edge of the Kingdom of Fife it is
at the back-of-beyond in global communications terms."
–
article in Scotrail's
Outlook
magazine
"It would be tremendous if by the time the Open
Championship next returns to St Andrews, we were able to
announce the confirmation that "The Home of Golf" will once
again have a direct rail link." –
Patrick Laughlin, Manager, St Andrews Partnership
‘I
would love to see a train service to St Andrews.’ -
Principal
Louise Richardson, University of St Andrews
'Why
is it that such a huge tourist resort and centre of
learning [St Andrews] has only a bus service through to
Leuchars junction?' -
Professor
Christopher Harvie, former MSP
‘There are a
number of ‘missing links’ in the public transport system –
notably the lack of a direct rail link into St Andrews ...
the lack of a main rail link may encourage higher use of
private transport means.’ - St Andrews & East
Fife Local Plan Environmental Statement,
Fife
Council
