That ends our coverage of the Scottish Parliament for Wednesday 27 September 2017.

We'll be back tomorrow morning with coverage of the Public Petitions Committee as it takes evidence on mesh implants from 09:15.

Have a good night.

Image source, Levenmouth Rail Campaign

Mr Yousaf says in terms of the City Deal it would be for local authorities to come forward with their priorities.

The transport minister says the Levenmouth Rail Campaign tagline is "More Than Just A Transport Project" which he says is a fantastic tagline.

Mr Yousaf says if this is looked at purely on the value for pounds invested then there is still some work to do.

The transport minister says the case is very well made by the LMRC booklet., external

Mr Yousaf says he will instruct Transport Scotland to take on responsibility for a study to find the evidential base which is vitally important when spending taxpayers money.

The minister says he will reengage with members, Fife Council and campaigners on this issue.

Image source, bbc

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf thanks the Levenmouth Rail Campaigners, many of whom are in the gallery.

Mr Yousaf says over 12,500 signatures are on the petition to reinstate the rail link.

He says nobody has ever doubted the passion and commitment and desire of those in Levenmouth to reopen the rail link.

The minister says he understands the frustration of the campaigners.

He says there has to be an absolute robust business case scrutinised to the nth degree.

Tory MSP Alexander Stewart says this area is currently the biggest urban area in Scotland not covered by a rail link.

Mr Stewart pays tribute to the local community for their commitment to this project.

The Tory MSP says this rail link would boost the local economy and boost investment.

"People suffer on a day to day basis" with the poor rail links, he says.

"It is time for the Scottish government to sit up and listen to the locals," he says, adding "the government needs to put its money where its mouth is."

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Mark Ruskell says he highlighted the case to reopen the Levenmouth rail link in a member's debate in 2007.

Mr Ruskell says there is a strong economic future for Levenmouth communities, but a rail link connecting Levenmouth to the rest of Scotland is missing.

The Green MSP says the line already exists, albeit mothballed.

He says Network Rail would have to open the line within 12 months of a request.

Labour MSP Claire Baker says the reopening of this line was in both the Labour and Green manifestos.

Ms Baker says it would expand economic opportunities and more opportunities for freight.

The Labour MSP says the area has high unemployment and the opening of this rail link could help with this.

She says there is a growing concern that Transport Scotland are not making this process straightforward.

Image source, DOUGIE JOHNSTON

A group representing small firms in south east Scotland has said it has "little doubt" of the economic benefits of extending the Borders Railway.

It comes after a recent independent study found the line was attracting new workers, homeowners and tourists.

The Federation of Small Businesses said those conclusions came as no surprise to regular users of the route.

It said the line was a "gift for local events" and had provided a massive boost for visitor numbers.

FSB senior development manager for the east of Scotland Gordon Henderson said the reopening of the line had come about due to grassroots campaigning.

"This is great encouragement for those in Fife campaigning for the Levenmouth rail link," he said.

He added that the impact on local events in the Borders was clear to see.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP David Torrance says this is one of the most important issues affecting his constituents.

The Kirkcaldy MSP says it is crucial to revive the Levenmouth rail link to provide job opportunities.

He says he finds Willie Rennie's attacks on the SNP nothing more than cheap political point scoring.

Mr Rennie intervenes says he was confused by the differences between the council and government.

Mr Torrance says the Scottish Lib Dem leader's comments in the newspaper were unhelpful.

Image source, Levenmouth Rail campain

In 2010 the Sunday Herald published The Lost Lines by Kenny Kemp:

"On a bright autumn afternoon, I picked my way along four miles of overgrown and rusty railway track on decaying wooden sleepers, running through rural Fife along the banks of the River Ore.

"Sleeper is the operative word. The Thornton to Levenmouth rail spur could deliver massive economic and environmental benefits for the whole of Scotland, serving Diageo’s world-leading distilling plant at Cameron Bridge, as well as Fife Council’s booming renewables industry park at Methil on the coast.

"It could, eventually, give the people of Leven, Buckhaven and Windygates a proper rail connection with the rest of Fife, Edinburgh and beyond.

Read more here., external

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says there is a good case for reopening this line and he normally approaches the opening of rail lines with caution.

Green MSP John Finnie asks if he has the same caution for road projects.

Mr Greene says he would also approach this cautiously and look at the potential benefits of such infrastructure projects.

The Tory MSP says this is a perfect opportunity to get freight off the road and onto rail.

He says this would also encourage inward investment and could reduce CO2 emissions in the Fife area.

Mr Greene says there will have to be a real conversation about how this will be funded.

In 2015 Fife Council pledged its commitment to the campaign to reopen the rail link between Thornton and Leven.

The local authority has appealed to the public to sign the petition organised by the Levenmouth Rail Campaign.

Depute Leader, councillor Lesley Laird, attended a public meeting on Wednesday and presented the case for re-instating the defunct line.

Ccouncillor Laird said: "Re-opening the Levenmouth Rail Link is vital for improving the local economy.

"Levenmouth has so much to offer residents, businesses and tourists. There is no doubt, improving its transportation links would open up the potential of the area and its people to do even more."

Fife Council and the Levenmouth Rail Campaign have produced a leaflet detailing "the many benefits of a rail link to the area".

Scottish Lib Dem Leader Willie Rennie says studies have been carried out and there is local support of the reopening of this rail link.

"The cost is not insignificant, but in comparison with other projects, is quite small," he says.

Mr Rennie says this has been a long and drawn out process which needs some movement.

He says he hopes for the ministers support.

Image source, Levenmouth Rail campaign

Taken from the Levenmouth Rail campaign (LMRC) website, external:

"Levenmouth is the largest urban area (pop 37,600) in Scotland not directly served by rail, despite the presence of a high standard mothballed line between Thornton (on the main east coast line) and Leven, a distance of 5 miles.

"The Campaign seeks to raise awareness and exert pressure from the local community for the need, logic and justice of reconnecting our neglected community to the national rail network.

"We need to restore both passenger and freight services - given the poor road connections to the area, better freight links will aid motorists by shifting extra traffic off the highways."

Image source, Levenmouth Rail campaign

Image source, DOUGIE JOHNSTON

Ms Gilruth says passenger numbers on other reopened services, including the Borders Railway and the Airdrie-Bathgate line have exceeded predictions.

The SNP MSP says a strong case has been made for ministers to give serious consideration to the re-opening of the Levenmouth line for passenger and freight services.

Ms Gilruth says she is extremely proud of the government's involvement with the Lavenmouth Academy improvements but is surprised the rail link was not part of the city deal.

"As Edinburgh booms, Levenmouth is beginning to contract," she says.

The SNP MSP invites the minister to come and walk the rail link saying the track is there and there is a well established campaign along with cross party support.

Image source, Levenmouth Sustainable Transport Study

Ms Gilruth welcomes the Fife Council report, Levenmouth Sustainable Transport Study, external which was published in January 2017.

The SNP MSP says this study included a strongly positive cost-benefit analysis for the link and suggested that its reopening would lead to major economic benefits.

She says that, although the Levenmouth area faces high levels of economic deprivation and problems with connectivity, it has substantial opportunities for employment and economic development.

Ms Gilruth says this project could help deliver this.

SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth says the decision to build Broders Railway was branded a waste of money but the demand far outweighed the expectation.

Ms Gilruth says the process in calling for this rail link to be re-opened has been tiresome and has lacked transparency.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser intervenes to suggest that there are youth employment issues in the Leven area and reopening the rail link may help.

Ms Gilruth says she does agree with this, adding that it could also help with tourism in the area.