A FORMER rail worker has thrown his support behind proposals to reintroduce Cumnock train station.

We reported last week how one local community group are fighting for a return for the Cumnock train station after a fifty year absence.

The Cumnock Action Plan Steering Group are considering a campaigning to see the re-introduction of the former Cumnock railway station.

As East Ayrshire's second most densely populated town, Cumnock has been left without a station since 1965, leaving commuters with the option of investing in a car or spending a fortune on buses.

The group are attempting to gauge public opinion on the idea which has this week been supported by a former rail worker from New Cumnock.

Colin Hyslop maintained the line from Auchinleck to Kilmarnock and he reckon that as well as reintroducing the station, other changes could see an improved rail service across the area.

Colin worked on the rail between 1978 and 1986.

He said: "I'm definitely in favour of it.

"A big part of it is the service. I think there are times when there are only one train every three hours. They could even raise the speed limit a wee bit. It's been seventy miles an hour since I worked there.

"After I left they reopened New Cumnock and then Sanquhar, so I would hope they would re-open Mauchline station as well.

"They could do with brining in an hourly service.

"The only problem is, where would you put a train station in Cumnock? It would also need to have a car park as well. I don't know where you would build something like that."

Readers also took to the Chronicle's Facebook page to give their opinion.

Ex-Cumnock station worker, Ian Coughtrie said: "As one of the last employees at Cumnock station before closure, I would be very interested in seeing the station open again. This town had been decimated by people who know nothing about us."

He added: "Beeching took away our railway station, let us get the station back, and save us driving through Mauchline both morning and night."

Peter Black said: "The Beeching decision to cut rail was always a stupid one, and it was done by people who expected everyone to have second cars and drive everywhere.

"That's obviously not possible or healthy for our environment.

"If you want to see the difference rail can make, look at Borders railway. It was a £350 million investment to completely reopen a line to Edinburgh that was originally closed by Beeching. It's been amazingly successful and has rejuvenated the areas around the train stops, with people wanting to move into those communities.

"Cumnock is not what it once was, a hub town that people travelled into for work.

"Instead it needs to become more like a commuter town, somewhere desirable to raise kids while still being able to easily commute to the big towns and cities.

"Right now that isn't the case, no one wants to take up investments like Knockroon because those who can afford to don't want to move to an area that has such a bad commute.

"Rail is the greenest, most efficient way to help support Cumnock's transformation into such a commuter town and reopening the station would cost much less than the £350m of Border Rail, but would make a massive difference"

Mhari Ferguson said: "Think there's a few things Cumnock could be doing with more than a train station."

If you have an opinion on the proposals then you can give feedback to the Cumnock Action Plan Steering Group.

Alternatively, you can submit an entry for the Cumnock Chronicle Letters Page.