North East Conservative MSP Liam Kerr led a members’ business debate in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 25 April about the possibility of re-opening railways stations at Newtonhill and Cove.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, told parliament: “Even if the detailed appraisal concludes that one or both of the stations may have a strong case to move forward, there are a number of hurdles that need to be cleared before it can progress.”

North East transport partnership Nestrans is carrying out the detailed appraisal, which should be completed by the end of this year.

Mt Kerr’s motion achieved cross-party support and follows a petition which gained more than 1,500 responses.

The motion read: “That the Parliament welcomes the recent Nestrans report that recommends that the potential new railway stations at Cove and Newtonhill should undergo a detailed appraisal; notes the view that there is a desperate need for these communities to be linked up with the rail network after, it considers, years of transport funding being directed to the Central Belt; understands that over 1,550 people have signed a petition calling on the stations to be opened, and thanks the Campaign for North East Rail and local residents for their tireless campaigning on this issue.”

More here: https://www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdeen-news/new-north-east-stations-should-9246331