A transport partnership has published two new reports looking into ways to improve links in the north east.

Nestrans commissioned the studies to investigate how connections can be enhanced between Peterhead and Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen and Dyce.

A rail report by AECOM looked at the costs and benefits of a reopened train line between Aberdeen, Dyce and Ellon, along an alignment loosely based on the former Formartine and Buchan railway.

Three options costing between £270m and £381m were assessed.

It found a new rail service could attract between 450,000 and 700,000 journeys per year.

A road report by Systra looks at upgrades on the A90 and A952, providing indicative schemes, costs and benefits.

It includes new roundabouts, junction upgrades, safety improvements and overtaking opportunities, as well as partial dualling of the route, totalling £39m.

Members of the Nestrans board, MPs and MSPs assessed the reports on Friday morning.

Councillor Peter Argyle, chairman of Nestrans, said: "What we can see in the road report is that if we can obtain what we see as a fairly modest investment from Transport Scotland, we could deliver new infrastructure that would deliver benefits to travel in the north east.

"The findings from the rail report are not as clear cut - the study shows that whilst reinstating a rail line between Aberdeen, Dyce and Ellon would be materially feasible, popular, environmentally beneficial and would bring benefits to the area, it also finds that, at this moment in time, it is significantly more expensive and would require ongoing subsidy."

Nestrans will now consult with both Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils before bringing the study back to the Nestrans board early next year.