West Lothian station set to be first in Scotland to close in 31 years

A West Lothian train station is set to be the first in Scotland to close in 31 years.

Breich Station in West Calder is an unmanned stop on the Edinburgh-Glasgow line via Shotts and only three passengers use it weekly.

National Rail says closing the station rather than renovating it would lead to £1.4m in savings and will now run a 12-week consultation from mid-July.

David Dickson, infrastructure director for the ScotRail Alliance, which includes Network Rail, said: “We take pride in the role we have played in growing Scotland’s Railway in recent years. Where there is proof of demand, such as the Airdrie-Bathgate route and along the Borders Railway, we have actively supported the opening of new stations and the reopening of old ones.

“As a responsible steward of the railway and a publicly run organisation, it is also Network Rail’s responsibility to ensure that we consider value for money in relation to the operation of station and rail services.

“The current and projected demand for rail services to and from Breich is very low. Closure of the station must be considered as an option, however, the views of the local community are vital when making a decision on its future.

“I encourage anyone with an interest in Breich Station to read through our consultation document and share their views with us. A report will be submitted to Transport Scotland in October 2017 for consideration."

However, local MSP Neil Findlay says the closure would harm the area.

He said: "Breich is a very small and isolated village but it is surrounded by big swathes of land. That means that at some point in the future the village may be right for development. A train station being there is an attractive proposition and could encourage people to move there. I think removing the station would have a very negative effect."