Performance against objectives

Transport Planning Objective 1

TPO 1: Improve access to reliable and consistent public transport services to Edinburgh in the East Linton area in order to support sustainable economic growth.

Indicators Used

The following indicators have been used, based on primary and secondary data sources to understand scheme performance against TPO1:

• Rail usage and station utilisation
• Journey times and accessibility to Edinburgh
• Travel behaviour (commuting, leisure, education)
• Perceptions of accessibility, reliability and service quality

Primary Evidence

Primary survey evidence indicates that the reopening of East Linton Station has improved access to rail services and connectivity, with strong uptake among residents:

• Rail access and usage
• 84% of residents have used rail in the past 12 months
• 90% of rail users within East Linton now use East Linton station. The remaining 10% continue to use alternative stations.
• 77% of residents have used the station since opening
• Station utilisation
• 36% use the station regularly and 41% occasionally
• Overall utilisation remains relatively infrequent, with 54% using it less than once per week
• Journey purpose
• Rail plays a significant role in commuting, accounting for 32% of commuting trips.
• Rail is also the dominant mode for longer-distance trips, particularly to Edinburgh (53%) and Newcastle (72%).
• Accessibility and perceptions
• 94% rate the station as easy to access
• 79% say it opens up new journey opportunities
• 89% perceive a positive impact on the local area
• Travel behaviour impacts
• 40% report increased travel frequency due to the station
• There is evidence of mode shift from car to rail for Edinburgh trips, with 38% citing partial replacement, and 42% citing substantial replacement.
• Barriers to rail access
• Service frequency and timetable gaps remain key issues. 56% of survey respondents are dissatisfied with frequency of services; and 55% are dissatisfied with first/last train times.
• Other barriers to rail access include cost and car convenience.
• Business evidence
• 59% of businesses see rail links as a competitive advantage
• 34% report increased rail use for work-related travel
• 13% identify rail as influencing business conditions

Overall, primary evidence indicates strong uptake, high awareness and clear improvements in rail access, with emerging impacts on commuting and travel behaviour.

Secondary Evidence

Secondary data confirms that the scheme has delivered substantial improvements in accessibility and connectivity, though demand is below forecast:

• Journey times:
• East Linton–Edinburgh rail journey times reduced to approximately 20–30 minutes
• Rail is significantly faster than travel by bus (by more than 1 hour)
• Accessibility
• Households within 60 minutes of Edinburgh by public transport increased to c.919 (increase of 586)
• Over 1,000 households are within walking catchment of the station
• Rail demand
• 115,625 journeys recorded in 2025
• Demand is below forecast (approx. 130,000–140,000 anticipated at the business case stage)
• Daily entries/exits c.184–198
• Travel patterns
• 78% of journeys are to Edinburgh, confirming its role as the primary destination
• Service performance
• Generally good punctuality and reliability
• However, frequency and scheduling remain constraints, consistent with primary findings

These data demonstrate that the station has delivered material improvements in accessibility and connectivity, particularly to Edinburgh.

Findings

• The scheme has successfully reintroduced direct rail access, eliminating reliance on nearby stations and improving connectivity.
• There is strong uptake in use of the station and high awareness, in excess of early-stage expectations for new infrastructure.
• Rail plays a meaningful role in commuting and longer-distance travel, particularly to Edinburgh.
• However, usage remains irregular and below forecast, with service limitations constraining full utilisation.

Interpretation

TPO1 can be considered largely achieved at this stage. The scheme demonstrates strong performance in:

• Improving access to rail services
• Enhancing connectivity to Edinburgh
• Enabling commuting and longer-distance travel
• Delivering high levels of satisfaction

But weaker performance regarding:

• Service frequency and timetable limitations
• Affordability concerns
• Incomplete integration with other modes

Overall, the station is functioning effectively as a transport access point, with clear evidence of both accessibility improvements and emerging behavioural change.

Transport Planning Objective 2

TPO 2: Increase the sustainable mode share for residents and businesses from the East Lothian area to Edinburgh and Newcastle.

Indicators Used

The following indicators have been used, based on primary and secondary data sources to understand scheme performance against TPO2:

• Modal share (rail vs car)
• Mode of access to station
• Changes in travel behaviour and frequency
• Business and visitor travel patterns

Primary Evidence

Primary data suggests that the scheme has contributed to modal shift, particularly for longer-distance journeys, but car use remains dominant overall:

• Commuting mode share
  • Car travel remains dominant with 54% of commuting trips by car.
  • Rail accounts for 32% of commuting trips.
• Station access
  • 81% access the station by walking or wheeling
  • 16% access by car
• Behaviour change
  • 40% report increased travel due to the station
  • There is strong evidence of modal shift from car to rail for Edinburgh trips
• Journey patterns
  • Rail dominates longer-distance journeys (Edinburgh, Newcastle)
  • Car remains dominant for shorter, local trips (e.g. Dunbar, Haddington)
• Business travel
  • The main mode for commuting by employees is car (63%); there is no commuting by rail by employees
  • The main mode of travel for business is by car (77%); 22% of business travel is by rail
• Visitor behaviour
  • 70% said they have increased rail use
  • 77% said they replaced car journeys
  • 81% said they are more likely to visit due to the station

Secondary Evidence

Secondary data supports the presence of partial modal shift, alongside continued car reliance:

• Rail demand has increased significantly relative to pre-opening conditions
• Use of rail for trips to Edinburgh is particularly prevalent (78% of journeys)
• There is continued growth in traffic on key corridors (+10–15% PM peaks), indicating persistent car use

Findings

• There is clear evidence of modal shift to rail for longer-distance travel, particularly to Edinburgh.
• There are high levels of walking/wheeling to access the station.
• However, car dominates local travel and commuting overall; and rail is not the primary mode for many everyday journeys.

Interpretation

TPO2 has been partially achieved:

Positive outcomes:

• There is 32% rail mode share for commuting
• There is good evidence of modal shift for longer-distance journeys
• There are high levels of walking/wheeling access to the station

Limitations:

• Continued dominance of car use overall
• Limited uptake of rail for business travel
• Service constraints limiting further modal shift, identified through dissatisfaction indicated by respondents.

Alignment with National Transport Strategy Priorities

The Scottish Government published the National Transport Strategy (NTS) in February 2020, setting out a vision for Scotland’s transport system over the following 20 years. This vision is to:

…have a sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities businesses and visitors.

Table 59 demonstrates how this scheme aligns with each of the NTS priorities. Overall, the East Linton Railway Station scheme demonstrates strong alignment with the strategic intent of the NTS, consistent with the wider findings of this Stage 1 evaluation:

• The scheme provides improved access to public transport, contributing to reducing inequalities
• Realisation of climate, economic and behavioural outcomes remain partial, reflecting early-stage implementation and service constraints
• Longer-term alignment with NTS priorities will depend on increased usage, improved service provision, and strengthened integration with other modes

Table 59: Alignment with National Transport Strategy Policies

Priorities	Outcomes	Scheme Alignment
Reduces inequalities	Provide fair access to services Easy to use for all Affordable for all	The opening of East Linton Railway Station has significantly enhanced access to the rail network for the local community, providing direct and convenient connections to Edinburgh and other key destinations. High levels of station usage and accessibility, including strong active travel access (walking/wheeling), indicate that the station is easy to use and well-integrated within the settlement. This has improved access to employment, education and services. However, cost and timetable limitations may constrain affordability and accessibility for some users.
Takes climate action	Adapt to the effects of climate change Help to deliver net-zero target Promote greener, cleaner choices	The station has successfully enabled a shift towards more sustainable travel, particularly for longer-distance journeys to Edinburgh and Newcastle, where rail is now a dominant mode. Evidence of car trip replacement and increased rail use demonstrates early progress toward climate objectives. However, car use remains dominant for shorter and local journeys, meaning the scheme’s overall contribution to net-zero targets is limited.
Helps deliver inclusive economic growth	Reliable, efficient and high quality Use beneficial innovation	East Linton Station provides a high-quality and well-used transport asset, with strong satisfaction ratings and improved connectivity to regional labour markets. The station supports commuting to Edinburgh and has enhanced the attractiveness of the area for residents and visitors. Businesses recognise rail connectivity as a competitive advantage, although there is limited evidence of direct economic uplift or behavioural change at this early stage. Economic benefits are likely to develop further over time alongside population and development growth.
Improves health and wellbeing	Safe and secure for all Enables healthy travel choices Makes communities great places to live	The station performs strongly in terms of safety, security and user satisfaction, contributing positively to community wellbeing. High levels of walking and wheeling access demonstrate strong support for active travel. Wider health benefits are limited by continued reliance on car travel for certain journey types. Overall, the station is widely perceived as a valuable community asset, improving quality of life and local place attractiveness.