A RE-OPENED train line toward Dunfermline for passengers should include five stops before reaching Dunfermline, according to a railway campaign group.

Proposals from Railfuture Scotland, the think-tank’s wish list extending to the whole of Scotland with 90 new stations indicated, provide details on what the re-opened line could look like.

As reported in recent times, the drive to see passenger trains roll past Alloa station toward Fife has received a number of boosts with hopes Spanish train manufacturers Talgo would open a factory at the site of the former Longannet power station.

Coal trains used to use this very line to ferry fuel to the turbines and Green MSP Mark Ruskell has been particularly active in his bid to see passengers benefit from a connection to Dunfermline.

Maps by Railfuture Scotland, credited to the late traffic engineer and Railfuture Scotland former vice-chair Roderick McDougall BSc CEng MICE, detail how the line could work in practice.

They build on a vision for expansion from 2014, which called for 50 stations to be opened or re-opened to improve connectivity in an environmentally friendly way.

The call for new stations extends beyond the line in question and indeed, the plans would add two new stations between the already successful Stirling to Alloa line at Causewayhead and Cambus, with the latter becoming the first halt in the Wee County.

Heading out past Alloa, the vision compiled by Mr McDougall includes stops at Clackmannan, Kincardine, Culross, Valleyfield and Cairneyhill before arriving at Dunfermline.

The ability to take a train from Alloa toward Dunfermline would be advantageous for commuters to Edinburgh, who would be able to connect with services in the Fife town, instead of travelling to Stirling first, which is essentially in the opposite direction.

It has previously been argued that linking the Wee County to Fife via direct rail would bring a wealth of employment, educational and leisure opportunities.

Including train stops at smaller towns, like Clackmannan, may be necessary in order to win local hearts and minds as well.

This was evident when Mr Ruskell organised a town hall meeting in Alloa to gauge local support for the re-opening.

One Clackmannan resident highlighted the freight line is already running past the town and they would not like to see, and hear, extra locomotives “with no benefit” for the folks there.

In essence, it was made clear that a train station would be necessary if such proposals were to gain local support, especially with Clackmannan’s poorer bus links in mind.

In a wider sense, Railfuture Scotland often makes the case on environmental grounds, now more so than in 2014.

The independent group says more and bigger roads are not the answer, especially as they tend to just invite more traffic and lead to the same congestion issues.

A statement explained: “Railfuture advocates reducing the level of spending on new roads in Scotland dramatically.

“This money is not solving traffic problems, it is just moving the problems around.

“The money saved would be invested in alternatives to roads, including the railways.”