Politicians will get behind a campaign for the reinstatement of a direct rail link between Perth and Edinburgh at a special parliamentary session next week.
Conservative MSP Liz Smith has secured a members’ debate at Holyrood, where colleagues will speak up for the restoration of the historic line. The link was severed in the 1970s when Kinross station closed to make way for the M90 motorway.
It is claimed that travel times between the Scottish capital and the north could be cut by reopening the transport hub.
Hundreds of locals have signed a petition and Ms Smith has tabled a parliamentary motion, which has won the backing of some MSPs.
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP said: “I very much welcome the support which the campaign to reopen a direct rail link between Perth and Edinburgh has already attracted from local residents and the support which the motion has attracted from Liberal Democrat and Green MSPs.
“The response from local residents has been excellent, with hundreds of people returning the local petition card, emailing and writing in to my local office, and joining the campaign for a direct rail link between Perth and Edinburgh Facebook group.”
The debate will take place on Wednesday.
Liz Smith added: “I hope the debate will allow MSPs not only to debate the issue but also all the political parties to put on public record if they support investing in Perthshire, Kinross-shire and Fife transport infrastructure.
“Only the reinstatement of this link will truly open up routes to the north from Edinburgh.
“It would bring a 35-minute reduction in the journey time from Edinburgh to Perth and Inverness; provide the opportunity to reduce journey times to Aberdeen; and allow the creation of new stations at key growth areas, such as Kinross and Bridge of Earn.
“It would also allow the creation of a key hub on the inter-city network at Perth and make proper use of this iconic station. I hope that SNP ministers will have the same high ambitions for the Scottish rail network.
“The SNP have made many pledges to improve the rail network for communities north of the central belt most of which they have not delivered or scrapped.
“Scottish Conservative are determined to deliver a modern transport infrastructure that is essential to improving people’s lives, growth and business and deliver a transport system that works for the 21st Century.”
National sustainable transport alliance Transform Scotland is also pressing the Scottish Government on the need for a direct line.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said a rail link from Edinburgh to Perth via Kinross was considered in the 2008 Strategic Transport Projects Review but it “did not represent best value for the taxpayer”.
He added: “Scottish Ministers are always willing to consider rail projects that provide a positive impact and we continue to liaise with Transform Scotland to assist in their development of proposals for a new rail link between Edinburgh and Perth via Kinross.”