Date: 28/04/2018

The bid to reopen the Levenmouth rail link has a serious chance of success, Transport Scotland has confirmed. In a positive endorsement for the long-running campaign, Bill Reeve, director of rail with the Scottish Governments transport agency, said the project deserves proper scrutiny. Speaking at a conference in Methil rounding up the progress so far, Mr Reeve revealed a previous appraisal had over-estimated the costs of reinstating the mothballed line between Leven and Thornton while under-estimating the benefits. It is now thought reopening the five mile stretch of track will cost between £37 million and £56 million around half the amount previously quoted and less than half the cost per mile of the successful Borders railway.

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Bid to boost case for reinstating Levenmouth rail link - The Courier

Courier

The bid to reopen the Levenmouth rail link has a serious chance of success, Transport Scotland has confirmed.

Related images

The 07.10 Leeds-Aberdeen NXEC service passes Thornton Junction on 24 August with power car 43206 on the rear. On the right is the junction for the Methil branch. Local news reports suggest Network Rail is to officially cease maintenance on the line (although there appears to be little evidence of any such work in recent years) despite current hopes of passenger and freight revivals.
Location: Thornton Junction
Company: Edinburgh and Northern Railway
24/08/2009 Bill Roberton

View west over the station site at Cameron Bridge towards the recently upgraded and extended Diageo distillery complex on 22 August 2008. The former Leven Railway route to Thornton Junction runs off to the right. Discussions have taken place regarding the possible reopening of the section to handle future rail based freight traffic at the distillery. Such a move would also give added impetus to the proposal to reopen the line through to Levenmouth, currently being pursued by the local authority in conjunction with Transport Scotland.
Location: Cameron Bridge
Company: Leven Railway
22/08/2008 John Furnevel

Four track bridge over River Leven which carried track to the power station and the Wemyss Coal Lines. The buildings were sadly demolished in 2011.
Location: Methil Power Station
Company: Leven Dock Railway
01/06/2007 Brian Forbes

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