FIFE region has been given the go-ahead to spend #8.8m to improve rail

links with Edinburgh, Scottish Transport Minister Lord James

Douglas-Hamilton announced yesterday after meeting council

representatives.

Support for the rail plan is part of the Government's Setting Forth

package of transport improvements for the Firth of Forth. The most

controversial -- a second road bridge -- has yet to be decided.

Lord James said: ''The Government's decision to provide the financial

resources necessary to carry forward Fife region's plans for rail

improvements represents firm evidence of our commitment to improve

transport infrastructure in the Firth of Forth area.

''The Fife rail link is a vital public transport artery between South

Fife and Edinburgh. By allowing for extra capacity on services through

the provision of four new train sets and three new stations, this plan

will bring tangible benefits to rail users, extend the accessibility of

train services in Fife, and assist in the relief of road congestion in

the Forth bridgehead area and Edinburgh.''

Funding of up to #8.8m for the rail proposals will be made available

to Fife Regional Council over four years from 1995-96 to 1998-99. The

resources will be in the form of further capital allocations.

Three new rail stations are to be constructed at Dalgety Bay (with

private sector support, due to open by 1996), Dysart (opening 1998) and

at Dunfermline East (1999). Car parking will be extended at Dunfermline

railway station.

Fife Region's leader, Councillor John MacDougall, said they had spent

#50m in the last five years on public transport links, including

park-and-ride facilities.

''However, any solution in the longer term to the problem of the Forth

Road Bridge fast reaching its total capacity must, in our view, include

a new road crossing of the estuary,'' he said.