Fife’s £10 million park and ride has opened, with ambitious plans high on the agenda to add a rail stop.
The hub is part of the Queensferry Crossing project and offers bus links throughout central Scotland and along the M90 corridor. But Fife Council’s transport spokesman Pat Callaghan doesn’t want to stop there.
“If we are serious about this being a transport hub it should be a park and choose.”
The new hub sits alongside the Fife Circle line, and if it could be linked into the rail network it would be a boost for even more Fife commuters.
“With regard to a train halt we will be talking to Transport Minister Keith Brown and the Scottish Government to make this complete. Putting in a rail halt would complete this.”
Helping Mr Callaghan open the park and ride, Mr Brown said Fife Council could apply to a £30 million pot of funding for such regional transport partnership projects available from next spring.
Stirling-based contractors, Robertson, carried out construction work, which took just over a year to complete. It is already being held up as an example in other towns, according to Stagecoach Group’s chief executive Martin Griffiths.
Now the site, which is close to the M90, will be managed and maintained by Fife Council and, through a partnership agreement, staffed by Stagecoach.
The firm has put in £2m additional investment and has created 15 new jobs.
Mr Brown said: “Just over a year since I broke the ground to mark the start of the works, the opening of this £10m transport interchange, on time and under budget, will improve links across the Forth to Edinburgh, West Lothian and the West of Glasgow.
“This is a welcome addition to the transport infrastructure in Fife and provides a great option for commuters heading into Edinburgh.
“The Scottish Government is committed to cutting carbon emissions. As well as providing facilities for pedestrians, bikes and electric vehicles, the Halbeath Park and Ride will also enhance the existing Ferrytoll Park and Ride and provide opportunities for car sharing and free parking for over 1,000 vehicles, encouraging modal shift from the car to public transport.”
Mr Callaghan said the Halbeath hub would build on Ferrytoll’s great success and would not only ease congestion but will also support the new Queensferry Crossing.
“Completion of this project on time and under budget is a great example of partnership working and I would like to thank Transport Scotland, ERDF, Robertson and Stagecoach for all their help and support to make this a reality.”
Mr Griffiths added: “We are pleased to further expand our provision of services for the people of Fife with the opening of this new interchange.”