When Longannet power station in Fife closed in 2016, it brought an end to coal-fired power production in Scotland. Now, it has been widely reported that the site has been chosen by the Spanish train manufacturer Talgo as the location for a new factory, employing 1,000 people (www.talgo.com).

However, this is reliant on the company winning a contract to build trains for the high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham.

Madrid-based Talgo has the backing of Fife Council and the Scottish government, but the decision on the award of the contract will not be made until early 2020; and with four others bidders, Talgo is by no means certain to win.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, the MSP for Dunfermline and West Fife, said: “It is excellent news that Talgo has selected Longannet as the preferred site for its UK manufacturing facility; this builds on West Fife’s record as an attractive location for investment.

"The new facility will bring huge opportunities for local economic development, and it has the potential to bring hundreds of new jobs to West Fife. Talgo will be well placed to tap into a skilled local workforce, and to benefit from excellent links to the rest of the country.”

Mark Ruskell, the MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: “This is excellent news for the community in West Fife; the end of the coal age can be the beginning of a vibrant low-carbon industry in central Scotland, and Talgo’s commitment to 1,000 new jobs will be transformative.

"The rail infrastructure in place was key to the company choosing this site, and I am excited to see how this can pave the way for more innovative and ambitious freight and passenger rail in Scotland.”