The new railway station in the East Lothian town of East Linton welcomed its first passengers on Wednesday (December 13) as the town re-joined the rail network.

After a public consultation, construction of the station started in February 2022, and cost £15m. It received approval to open last week.

Scotland’s Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop travelled on the first train to East Linton from Edinburgh, along with a range of campaigners and workers who had brought the station into being.

A piper greeted the first train, and East Linton Primary school pupils joined the celebration the return of passenger services to the town.

The Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of the new station, which brings the railway back to East Linton after the original station closed fifty-nine years ago in 1964.

Network Rail expects around 130,000 journeys to be made to and from East Linton over the next year.

Passengers can now travel from East Linton to Edinburgh Waverley (journey time: twenty minutes), and via the East Coast Main Line to Dunbar and Newcastle. The station improves transport connectivity, and will also boost the local economy.

Trains operated by ScotRail and TransPennine Express (which named its first train to stop there ‘Hailes Castle’) will serve the station, with a total of twenty-two services per day.

The new station has:

• two platforms, each 158m in length and 4m in width
• step-free access across the railway via a footbridge with lifts
• waiting shelters, seating and ticket machines on the platform
• lighting columns throughout the site
• CCTV
• bus stop with shelter and a drop-off space
• 114 parking spaces, including blue badge priority parking and 18 electric vehicle charging points
• cycle storage facilities.

Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Transport, said: “The new East Linton station is the latest example of this Scottish Government’s commitment to building and investing in Scotland’s Railway. Our aim is to encourage more people out of their car and onto sustainable public transport.

“The station will open up education, leisure, and business opportunities for East Linton’s growing community, while also offering greener ways to travel as we work towards our ambitious Net Zero goals.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has worked to deliver this project, on the ground and in the background, as we look forward to welcoming passengers for many years to come.”

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “The new East Linton station is an exciting development that has the potential to help transform the area by improving transport links and triggering further investment and economic growth.

“The station will offer East Linton’s growing population a more sustainable, cleaner travel option and is an important part of our commitment – alongside the Scottish Government – to expand the rail network and open-up Scotland’s Railway to new communities.

“Our project team has worked incredibly hard to deliver this new station and we look forward to seeing the positive impact the station will have in the community in years to come.”

East Lothian Council Leader Norman Hampshire said: “The arrival of the first train at the new East Linton Station is an historic moment for the local community. After so many decades without passenger services, people living and working in the area are very excited and will benefit greatly from improved transport connections.

“East Lothian Council has invested almost £3.5 million in this fantastic new infrastructure. With the county being one of Scotland’s fastest growing areas, we believe the new station can also boost the local economy.”

Chris Jackson, managing director of TransPennine Express, said: “This is a landmark day for East Linton and for TPE, and we’re delighted we’ve been able to work with our partners to help connect communities in the Scottish Borders.

“For the first time in nearly six decades, rail services are calling at East Linton and it was fantastic to see so many using our newly named ‘Hailes Castle’ train this morning.”