South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth has welcomed funding being made available for an appraisal of accessibility needs at Kirkconnel Train Station.

The comments come in response to Transport Scotland announcing that an accessibility appraisal will be carried out at Kirkconnel Train Station after a successful bid for funding from the Local Rail Development Fund. The appraisal will assess the need for accessibility and opportunities for development at the Station.

Colin Smyth has been campaigning for access improvements to accessibility at Kirkconnel Train Station where only the Northbound platform has full disabled access.

Colin Smyth said, “A persons disability should never be a barrier to accessing public transport but at Kirkconnel Train Station disabled residents are prevented from making a return journey due to their being no disabled access on Platform 2.

Having campaigned for action to tackle this discrimination at Kirkconnel station I welcome this funding for a full appraisal. This is significant progress, however, the real test will be whether Scottish Government commit to putting in place funds for the infrastructure work that will be required to actually deliver disabled access.”