Liberal Democrat MP Willie Rennie has demanded that rail services to and from Inverkeithing should not be amended except to be improved while the line is under public ownership, following confirmation that east coast mainline services are to be nationalised in December.

Internal briefing documents released this morning have shown that transport officials expect that the East Coast Mainline will be operated by the Government for at least 18 months.Willie Rennie MP: Dunfermline & West Fife

Speaking in the House of Commons in July after the Government’s plans for the nationalisation of the East Coast franchise were announced, Mr Rennie raised concerns over the impact of this change on rail users.

Commenting, Mr Rennie said:

“Inverkeithing should be maintained as a major stop on East Coast mainline. It’s well used and should not be turned into a sub station.

“Commuters would be annoyed if they were forced to change at Edinburgh instead of accessing direct services from Inverkeithing.

“Fife already suffers from amongst the highest fairs in Scotland we must not also be turned into a branch line.

“Ministers must ensure that services to and from Inverkeithing are not diminished while the line is under Government control.”