Hopes of extension to train station’s car park dashed

Requests have repeatedly been made to extend the car park at the station.

Currently, many drivers leave their vehicle in surrounding streets before taking the train.

Frustrations about the lack of progress reached such a level that Pippa Swan, chairwoman of Dunbar Community Council, wrote to Jenny Gilruth MSP, who was Minister for Transport at that time, about the situation.

Mrs Swan highlighted the “rapidly growing” population of the town and that many residents relied on the rail link into the Capital for work.

She added: “We want to promote and support rail use and to encourage people to walk and cycle to the station rather than use their cars, when they live on the south side of the station.

“We also feel a desperate need to see increased commuter car parking immediately at the station for commuters from outlying villages.

“These plans seemed to be in the pipeline until this year, when we learnt that they were to be shelved due to lack of funds.

“I cannot stress strongly enough that the creation of both the southern access and the station car park facility are deemed to be critical to our vision for a sustainable travel plan for Dunbar and, equally importantly, to the economic success of our high street traders.

“I understand that Transport Scotland were in renewed discussions with East Lothian Council over this matter but, yet again, any hope of a completion of infrastructure has been dashed due to ‘lack of funding’.”

At the end of last year, Councillor Norman Hampshire told community councillors that plans to extend the car park, which can cater for 76 vehicles, and introduce pedestrian access to the platform from Hallhill, south of the line, were progressing.

Then, in February, Network Rail stressed that, while it was supportive of the ideas, there was “no funding”.

That prompted the community council to write to the Scottish Government about the situation.

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland has now responded to Mrs Swan’s letter, saying: “Transport Scotland currently have no proposals for further enhancements at Dunbar station and are not in discussions with East Lothian Council regarding the same.

“Transport Scotland has a continued commitment to improving rail services and facilities in the East Lothian Council area, including the new station at East Linton currently in construction, the replacement of Markle level crossing with a new road overbridge, and significant improvements including a new platform and passenger footbridge at Dunbar station itself, which was only completed in December 2019.”