RE-OPENING a direct passenger railway service between Dunfermline and Glasgow is the "final piece in the puzzle" for the Fife's recovery from the pandemic.

Douglas Chapman MP also wants West Fife to become known as an area of engineering excellence by "building the best trains in the world" at Kincardine.

He has asked transport secretary Michael Matheson to keep the West Fife rail link "at the forefront of your mind" after the Scottish Government announcement of the Rail Decarbonisation Plan.

Mr Chapman said: “The plan will create exciting development opportunities in West Fife with the announcement of the rail research hub in Longannet on the back of future investment from Talgo.

“But opening up the West Fife rail link will be the final piece in the puzzle to fully take advantage of Fife’s place in Scotland’s green recovery from this pandemic.

“Currently, people across Fife need to firstly travel to Edinburgh before connecting to Glasgow and that is discouraging us from taking rail travel seriously, instead hopping in the car because it is easier.

“That is why I have written to Michael Matheson to highlight how we can continue to be ambitious in our plans for a green future and invest in connectivity across the country.”

There's already an established rail route from Alloa to Stirling and Glasgow so re-opening the West Fife line would provide a direct passenger connection all the way to Glasgow.

It would also give an alternative route, through the Kingdom, connecting Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The existing tracks head south from Dunfermline and split west near the Elgin Industrial Estate to go through Cairneyhill, Newmills, Culross, Longannet, Kincardine and on to Alloa.

The line was latterly used to transport coal to the Longannet Power Station but has been mothballed since the plant closed in 2016.

Spanish firm Talgo want to create more than 1,000 jobs with a train manufacturing plant on the site, east of Kincardine, which is being cleared in stages through demolition works.

In his letter, Mr Chapman said: "Re-electrifying the West Fife rail for commercial use not only provides Fifers with a much-needed and much-longed-for connection to Glasgow and the west of Scotland but also allows tourists on the west coast to discover more of the tourism offering on show in Fife.

"I am sure you will be watching with great interest the developments around the Spanish rail company, Talgo, moving in to the Longannet site and the potential this could bring.

"The potential electrification of the line not only brings with it the increase in connectivity between our towns and cities from east to west but also helps Talgo in their pursuit to build the best trains in the world.

"I want to see West Fife lead the way in Scotland, becoming a hub for engineering excellence and selling train carriages around the world."