MSP WELCOMES CUPAR STATION DISABLED ACCESS NEWS

1.55.00pm GMT Mon 19th Mar 2007

Iain Smith MSP with Councillors Kennedy and Mordi at Cupar Railway Station

Local MSP for North East Fife, Iain Smith has expressed his delight at today's news from Transport Scotland, that Cupar Railway Station could be set to benefit from a £3.91 million investment in disabled access under the "Access for All" scheme.

Commenting, Iain Smith MSP said, "This is excellent news for the disabled and elderly rail users in and around Cupar. I have been continually pressing Tavish Scott, the Transport Minister, for these improvements for a considerable time and I am delighted that this is now to occur."

Mr Smith continued by praising Councillor Margaret Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Cupar South, by adding, "I would like to congratulate Councillor Kennedy, who has spearheaded the local campaign, for her hard work in pressing the Scottish Executive for these improvements."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1- Content of Press Release from Transport Scotland

PRESS RELEASE

19 March 2007

MORE STATIONS TO BE LOOKED AT FOR STEP FREE ACCESS.

Passengers at two more Scottish rail stations could be set to benefit from improved accessibility under the 'Access for All' scheme.

The stations at Barrhead, East Renfrewshire and Cupar, Fife could see improvements delivered thanks to the funding scheme for improving disabled access across the rail network.

The Access for All fund - £3.91m per annum - was set up to tackle accessibility problems at stations so that people with disabilities, the elderly and infirm as well as those with heavy luggage and pushchairs, have an unobstructed and obstacle free path from the station entrance to the platform.

Transport Scotland will now ask Network Rail to carry out a feasibility study to investigate what measures are required at Barrhead and Cupar stations. Some of the options that will be considered include new lifts, ramps, signage, lighting and flooring.

Tavish Scott, Minister for Transport, said:

"We are already working to increase accessibility at some of our major railway stations but the Access for All Fund also helps us improve access to local stations which are no less important to the passengers for whom they provide a vital transport link.

"The fund ensures that disabled people have trouble-free access to rail services, allowing them to travel without the difficulties and stresses they have experienced in the past.

But better accessibility will improve train travel for Scottish passengers more widely, the mother with a pushchair or an older person laden with heavy shopping bags for example.

"Along with our concessionary fares scheme and our support for community transport initiatives, we are making a real difference for people across Scotland."

The criteria for choosing the stations takes into account a number of issues which include footfall, areas where there are fewer alternative transport modes available and location of alternative stations.

Work is ongoing to identify further stations to be considered under the next tranche of funding which is expected for 2009-2014..

Notes

1. The Disability Discrimination Act and disability issues are reserved to the UK Government. . The Access for All fund is a GB wide scheme set up last year and led by Department for Transport. For further information visit the website at www.dft.gov.uk/accesss

2 In August, Transport Minister Tavish Scott announced that the first six stations to be looked at would be: Motherwell, Mount Florida, Dalmuir, Kirkcaldy, Stirling and Rutherglen. Full reports on these are expected back in May with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2008.

3. Work is also currently underway to increase accessibility at some of our major railway stations including new lifts at Haymarket.

4. Transport Scotland is the national transport agency responsible for road, rail and national concessionary travel. Transport Scotland is an executive agency that came into effect on 1 January 2006 and is directly accountable to Scottish Ministers. For further information visit www.transportscotland.gov.uk

For further information contact:

Name: Joanna Clabburn

Tel: 0141 272 7198

News Release: TS0117JC