A new Aberdeenshire station will “lead the way” in encouraging greener commutes in Scotland.
Scottish Government funding has been secured to increase the number of electric charging bays at the eagerly-anticipated Kintore Station.
The original Kintore station opened in 1854, but closed a century later in the Beeching cuts.
It is due to reopen in May, following work to double-track the line between Aberdeen-Inverurie as part of the Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project.
Now it has been revealed 24 of the 168 spaces at the £14.5million station will be for electric vehicles. Previously, only two had been planned.
The new station will also feature 12 accessible spaces, including two for electric vehicles.
Graeme Stewart, Network Rail’s senior sponsor for Kintore, said: “Work on the new station is progressing to plan and we look forward to opening Kintore in May – delivering new travel choices for the local community.”
Funded by Transport Scotland, Aberdeenshire Council and Nestrans, the new station will have step-free access between platforms through a new footbridge and lifts.
It will also have bike storage spaces and connections into the local bus network to encourage passengers to use public transport.
Lawrence Shackman, Transport Scotland’s head of rail projects and technical services, added: “Through linking electric vehicle infrastructure directly with access to rail, we are actively encouraging greener end-to-end journeys as an integral part of our efforts to improve air quality and our response to the climate emergency.”
