Introduction

This is part of the Borders Railway (Network Rail).

This short section of new line runs from Newcraighall South Junction (end of a short reversing spur from Newcraighall North Junction) south as a double track to King's Gate Points.

The line runs through the site of the Monktonhall Colliery and passes to the west of Millerhill and the largely closed Millerhill Marshalling Yard.

This is not the first re-alignment in this area. The Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway was re-aligned on the opening of the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway). It could even be argued that the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway was a re-alignment of the Edmonston Waggonway built to carry coal from the Edmonston Colliery to a railhead at Little France, for Edinburgh.

The new route could equally be known as the Shawfair Deviation.

Why built

This short section of new line enabled the re-opening of the Borders Railway. In particular it provided a new crossing under the Edinburgh city Bypass as the solum of the original route was crossed on a long diagonal by the road.