A VITAL morning rush-hour commuter link for West Fife rail users is set to be restored from July after a high-profile campaign.

The 0754 service from Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh which served Aberdour, Dalgety Bay and Inverkeithing commuters was cancelled in December.

This created travel difficulties for workers trying to get to the capital for a 9am start and led to "sardine" conditions on other trains.

Credit for the ScotRail re-think was claimed both by the Labour Party, who campaigned for the service's return, and transport minister Keith Brown, who said he had stepped in to resolve the matter.

Mr Brown said, "I am pleased to be able to announce that we have reached a likely solution to this problem.

"We in the Scottish Government are doing all we can to encourage more people to use the train with all the benefits that entails - less congestion on the roads, a reduction in carbon emissions and increased job and investment opportunities.

"It is hugely important for us to see that everything is done to ensure the train is a practical and attractive option for people.

"This is a true example of how partnership working can help realise real benefits and ScotRail are to be commended for the work they have done to come up with a solution." Gavin Yates, who started the Fairness for Fife Commuters campaign, said, "This is a great result for all those who worked together as part of the campaign.

"Members of the group wrote to ScotRail, Network Rail, the transport minister and their elected representatives and garnered support from across Scotland.

"I hope that the service is back in action as soon as possible as commuters in Fife deserve better services." Labour MSP Claire Baker said, "This service should never have been removed in the first place and I would really like to see the train back in service before the summer as I know the distress this cancellation has caused.

"As a regular train user I know first-hand the effect of the removal of this service and I welcome the change of heart by ScotRail after a great campaign across Fife." Her colleague, Helen Eadie MSP, said, "Fife commuters have been jammed on to the 'sardine express' as they have dubbed it for too long but people power has eventually won the day.

"I am disappointed that the service will not be resumed immediately but it's a step in the right direction."