Work is to begin soon on a £1.5 million upgrade of access to a West Fife railway station.
Pedestrian ramps are to be built on both sides of Rosyth Railway Station, providing access to platforms for those with mobility problems, such as wheelchair users, plus parents pushing prams.
It is almost two years since Scotland’s transport minister Keith Brown announced the halt would benefit from Transport Scotland’s Access for All funding programme.
Last month Fife Council’s west planning committee gave the green light for installation of the ramps and Network Rail has now confirmed it hopes to start on site in the next few weeks.
The improved access will be even more vital for the station if proposals for a park and choose scheme there come to fruition, as it is only reached by a steep set of steps.
Early this year, councillors approved plans for creating a transport hub at Rosyth, linking rail and bus services with parking for 500 cars, a bus stance and taxi rank.
Rosyth councillor and the council’s transport spokesman Pat Callaghan said: “A significant amount of customers using the park and choose will require suitable access.
“That doesn’t just mean wheelchair users, it includes people who just can’t manage the stairs and parents with buggies. There is a whole raft of people who will benefit from this but this should have been done years ago.”
Mr Callaghan credited resident Carol-Anne Bedborough for paving the way for the access upgrade, having highlighted the difficulty faced by some passengers four and a half years ago.
Since then Mr Callaghan and other politicians have pressed for investment.
He said: “She stood her ground and she has got action. She was the catalyst for all this.”
A spokesman for Network Rail, which will carry out the project on behalf of Transport Scotland, said: “Work will start on site shortly, in the next few weeks and should be delivered by spring of next year.”
Other improvements approved by the planning committee include relocation of signs, street lighting, shelters and fencing.