News - Alloa
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Themes ScotRail RMT Ticket offices The Jacobite Electrification Glasgow District Subway Port Glasgow Network Rail Ticket Offices BBC Caledonian MacBrayne Bedlington Ireland ORR ASLEF Avanti West Coast Levenmouth Line Haddington Flying Scotsman
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Engineers said three spans of wire and a number of registration arms were damaged and require replacement.
(Permalink) Alloa Blackgrange Cambus Electrification Stirling Tree |
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The re-opening of the 9km Levenmouth branch in 2024 will be the fifth Scottish rail re-opening in the last 20 years. Previous re-openings were the Larkhall branch (5km) in 2005; Stirling to Alloa (21km) in 2008; Airdrie to Bathgate (22km) in 2010; and the Borders Railway (49km) in 2015.
(Permalink) Airdrie Alloa Bathgate Larkhall Levenmouth Line  Levenmouth: Looking south from the Bawbee Bridge, over the site for the new Levenmouth station, on 26 October 2022.
 Caldercruix: With Main Street road bridge now reopened and the surrounding streets almost back to normal the 12.03 train to Helensburgh Central pulls into the westbound platform at Caldercruix on 7 March 2011, som ...  Alloa: A train from Glasgow via Stirling arrives at Alloa station on 19 May 2008, the first day of public service on the recently reopened line. |
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A bid for Levelling Up money should be made to help get the West Fife rail link on track.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Kincardine Longannet Talgo West Fife Rail Link  Kincardine: The Angus Railway Group's 'The Five Counties Railtour' at Kincardine, with the power station obscured by fog, on 20 April 1974.
 Torryburn: DMU having just passed the site of Torryburn station on its way to Culross on 21 June 1992 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the town.  Culross [2nd]: The Scottish Power Express about to leave the temporary platform at Culross on 21 June 1992 for the return trip to Edinburgh. |
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Representatives from across the political spectrum have called for full-time train services between Alloa and Glasgow to be reinstated.
(Permalink) ASLEF Alloa Driver shortage Overtime Rest days ScotRail Timetabling |
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Tributes are this week being paid to a 'true campaigner' from Alloa who played an important role in reconnecting the town to the railway network.
(Permalink) Alloa Martin Cook  Alloa: Exterior of the 2008 station at Alloa, which brought trains back to the Scottish town after forty years when the line from Stirling was reopened. Two Class 156s are at the single platform, on 16th May ... |
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Essential improvement works to the overbridge on the A907 Claremont in Alloa will take place for almost two months.
(Permalink) A907 Alloa  Alloa West Junction: Alloa masts; looking west towards the former Alloa West Junction with electrification masts in place. |
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The tweaks are being proposed by Scotrail and are due to come into effect from May 2022.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunblane Timetabling |
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A fresh call has been made to get proposals for the re-opening of the rail line between Alloa and Fife back on track.
(Permalink) Alloa Culross Dunfermline Kincardine  Culross [1st]: A B1 and brake van skirt the north shore of the Forth in the 1960s, having passed the site of the former Culross station and running through Valleyfield on the way back from Kincardine power station t ... |
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Clackmannan should get its own railway station, according to a Wee County candidate in the upcoming Holyrood elections.
(Permalink) Alloa Clackmannan Dunfermline New station |
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Calls to re-open the Alloa to Dunfermline Railway line to passengers are continuing despite being left out of a recent government transport plan.
(Permalink) Alloa Culross Dunfermline Kincardine Longannet New station Stirling  Culross [2nd]: The Northern Belle skirting the Forth on its way from Glasgow Central to Dunfermline nears Culross on 25 October. The train is headed by 47790 and tailed by 57312.  Kincardine: NB 256 at Kincardine station on 30 March 1964, with the bridge in the background. See image [[39356]] Culross [2nd]: The Scottish Power Express about to leave the temporary platform at Culross on 21 June 1992 for the return trip to Edinburgh. |
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Re-opening the Dunfermline to Alloa railway and a rail tunnel under the Forth are part of a £22 billion plan put forward by the Scottish Green Party.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline |
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Network Rail and the Scottish Government are being urged to open all of the West Fife rail line following the announcement of plans to electrify tracks between Longannet and Alloa. The plans also include the building of stations at Clackmannan and Kincardine.
(Permalink) Alloa Clackmannan Culross Dunfermline Kincardine Longannet Stirling |
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Rail bosses have been urged to make the most of plans to electrify tracks between Longannet and Alloa by extending the project further into west Fife.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Electrification Kincardine Stirling |
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Hopes of restoring passenger services between Alloa and Dunfermline are finally back on track.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Kincardine Stirling |
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Campaigners have shared their delight at news the city's direct link to Dunfermline could be returned after six decades in the sidings.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Kincardine Stirling |
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Passenger services could be reinstated between Clackmannanshire and Fife in Scotland, depending on the outcome of the next phase of development work between Alloa and Longannet. Network Rail engineers will be carrying out survey work and site and geological investigations which will help inform the development of a project which could enhance and electrify the line.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Electrification Kincardine Longannet Stirling |
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Network Rail will shortly begin the next phase of development work between Alloa and Longannet which could see the reinstatement of passenger services between Clackmannanshire and Fife.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Fife Kincardine Longannet Stirling  Alloa Loop: WCRC 47854 leads a Thornton - Bo'ness empty stock working into Alloa Loop on 22 June. 47804 was on the rear of the train.  Alloa: Longannet empties heading back to Hunterston rumble west through Alloa station on 11 March 2014 behind EWS liveried 66018. Standing at the platform is the 11.41 ScotRail service to Glasgow Queen Stree ...  Kincardine: A Hunterston - Longannet coal train approaching its destination about to pass below the 1936 Kincardine Bridge, on 11 March 2014. The bridge is much less busy these days thanks to the neighbouring Cla ... |
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Re-opening a direct passenger railway service between Dunfermline and Glasgow is the 'final piece in the puzzle' for the Fife's recovery from the pandemic.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Kincardine Line  Alloa: I don't believe the Alloa line timetable has changed substantially since reopening in 2008. A half-hourly service all day would be possible though presumably deemed uneconomic - or just unnecessary. I ...  Dunfermline Town: 158 789 calls at Dunfermline Town with an Edinburgh - Glenrothes with Thornton service on 10 January 2011.
Culross [2nd]: The Scottish Power Express about to leave the temporary platform at Culross on 21 June 1992 for the return trip to Edinburgh. |
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Work is set to progress on the Dunfermline to Alloa rail link, according to Fife MSP Mark Ruskell.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Mark Ruskell  Torryburn: 'The Caledonian', hauled by no 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, drawing away from Newmills and approaching Low Valleyfield on 27 May 2012.  Cairneyhill: The SLS/RCTS 'Joint Scottish Tour' at Cairneyhill on 17 June 1960 behind NBR 256 Glen Douglas. Culross [2nd]: The Scottish Power Express about to leave the temporary platform at Culross on 21 June 1992 for the return trip to Edinburgh. |
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With around 7,000 new rail vehicles on order to replace more than half of the passenger rolling stock fleet, Britains trains are about to change as never before. Scotland is no exception. In 2018, Hitachis Class 385 electric multiple units (EMUs) will replace the Class 170 diesel multiple units (DMUs) on the Edinburgh to Glasgow main line. Once further electrification is completed, more Class 385s will displace DMUs on services to Dunblane and through Shotts.
This year will also see some of the iconic British Rail High Speed Trains (HSTs) get a new lease of life as specially refurbished four and five-car sets operating on Scottish Inter-City services. (Permalink) Alloa Class 170 Class 385 Dunblane Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Electrification HST Hitachi Shotts Stirling  Haymarket MPD: Maintenance work in progress in the new shed at Haymarket on 13 February 2007. The facility had been officially opened during a ceremony earlier that day by Transport Minister Tavish Scott, accompanie ...  Craigentinny Depot: Scene at Craigentinny on 23 June as 66132 passes on the main line with the empty Binliner containers from Oxwelmains returning to Powderhall, while West Coast Railway locomotives 47826 and 3302 ...  Clayhills Yard: Looking over the servicing and stabling areas to the south of Aberdeen station on Sunday 5 November 2006 with a ScotRail 170 DMU receiving attention. The station itself is off picture to the left and ... |
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A new report published today [8 Dec] by local rail campaigns and Green MSP Mark Ruskell has called for Fife Council and the Scottish Government to back an ambitious rail reopening strategy for Fife.
The ground-breaking report entitled Breaking The Circle has been jointly produced by the Levenmouth Rail Campaign, the Newburgh Train Station Campaign, the St Andrews Rail Link Campaign (StARlink), Alloa Community Council, David Prescott of Allan Rail Solutions and Mr Ruskell, and represents a united front towards a Fife-wide rail enhancement strategy. (Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Levenmouth Newburgh St Andrews |
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Tributes have been paid to a Glasgow councillor and 'towering figure' in local politics who has died aged 59.
Labour councillor and former train driver Alistair Watson died suddenly at his home on Wednesday evening. [Alistair Watson delivered the Larkhall re-opening, without which there might not be Alloa, Airdrie-Bathgate and Borders. -Ed] (Permalink) Airdrie-Bathgate Alistair Watson Alloa Borders Railway Larkhall |
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ScotRail has unveiled the first in a fleet of electric trains the company is billing as 'faster, longer and greener'.
The Class 385 train, which was built by Hitachi, is the first of 70 that will operate on Scotland's busiest route from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk. They will also be used between Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane, as well as some routes south of Glasgow. Night testing of the train will start this week, ScotRail said. (Permalink) Alloa Class 385 Dunblane Electrification Hitachi Stirling  Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Mock up image of a Hitachi Rail Europe Class 385 AT200 train for Abellio's ScotRail franchise at Queen Street. 70 of these are due to enter service in 2017/2018. |
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The costs of two more flagship rail projects in Scotland have soared.
A Sunday Post investigation earlier this month revealed works on lines between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Aberdeen to Inverness, were tens of millions of pounds over budget. Now its been confirmed that electrification work on the Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane lines, as well as a 46-mile section of the Shotts line, is currently 50% over budget. The Office of Rail and Road confirmed it had launched an investigation into the budget overruns, blamed on poor design and extra costs of meeting safety legislation. (Permalink) Aberdeen Alloa Dunblane Edinburgh Electrification Glasgow Inverness Overspend Shotts Stirling |
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Proposals to open the Alloa to Fife rail line to passengers has been given fresh hope after the Scottish Parliament referred a public petition to the Longannet Task Force for consideration.
The closure of the power station, due to take place in March, may well have a devastating financial effect on Clackmannanshire and the surrounding areas. However, plans were put forth that could arguably soften the blow and open up new economic opportunities using the existing rail infrastructure. Passenger services currently terminate at Alloa, while the line itself runs past Longannet, through the West Fife villages and on to Dunfermline. A public petition, submitted by Martin Keatings, has called for the service to be extended to allow trains to take passengers from Alloa through the Fife circle, without the need to head into Edinburgh first. (Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Longannet  Alloa Loop: Coal empties from Longannet power station on their way back to Hunterston shortly after noon on 9 May 2012 behind EWS liveried 66015. The train is running parallel with the A907 road on the eastern ap ...  Cairneyhill: 66107 passes Cairneyhill with a Ladybank - Millerhill engineers train on 19 January. Note the housing now occupying the old goods yard. Torryburn: DMU having just passed the site of Torryburn station on its way to Culross on 21 June 1992 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the town. |
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A new 'Forth Circle' rail loop could be created if the threatened 40-year-old Longannet power station was to shut, campaigners have proposed.
The end of coal trains to the Fife plant would free up tracks so passengers could travel on the Forth-side line between Alloa and Dunfermline for the first time for 85 years. The scheme could include re-opening a station at the historic village of Culross to improve access for tourists. Trains supplying Longannet used the route until the £85 million Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line re-opened in 2008. (Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Longannet  Cairneyhill: Union of South Africa passes Cairneyhill with the first SRPS Forth Circle special on 23 August 2009.
 Elbowend Junction: After an unscheduled stop at Elbowend Junction because of apparent track circuit problems, GWR 4-6-0 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe restarts the Forth Circle special in the direction of Kincardine ... Culross [2nd]: The Scottish Power Express about to leave the temporary platform at Culross on 21 June 1992 for the return trip to Edinburgh. |
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Designs for the 70 new trains being built for the ScotRail fleet have been unveiled by the transport minister and new franchise holder Abellio.
The new trains are said to be quieter, faster and longer than current services. They will operate on Scotland's busiest route - the Edinburgh-Glasgow via Falkirk High line - by 2017. They will also be used on the Stirling-Alloa-Dunblane line and south Glasgow suburban routes. (Permalink) Abellio Alloa Dunblane Electrification ScotRail Stirling |
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Over the past 30 years, Scotland has been the trailblazer for re-opening railways in response to growing gridlock on the British road network. Scores of new stations have been created on the existing network north of the Border, and new lines now link communities which lost their services in the 1950s and 1960s - Edinburgh to Bathgate, Hamilton to Larkhall, Stirling to Alloa, Bathgate to Airdrie and several suburban routes in Glasgow.
(Permalink) Airdrie-Bathgate Alloa Bathgate Larkhall Levenmouth New station Re-opening  Cameron Bridge [1st]: Looking west over Cameron Bridge towards Thornton Junction on 3 September 2010. No obvious change here - other than the usual impression that the Diageo complex seems to have grown larger since the la ...  Earlseat Loading Pad: The first train out of Earlseat Loading Point on the Methil branch ran on 22 August 2012. There are now two trains a week, on Tuesday and Thursday, to Hunterston. 66140 leaves the site on 11 September ...  Methil: Methil station. NB 4.4.2T 67452 on branch train. |
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Passengers on one of Scotland's newest railway lines face disruption for the next five years while it is shut for major repairs, The Scotsman has learned.
Week-long closures of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line start next month, when parts of the route will be largely rebuilt because of problems with the way it was constructed. Rail industry insiders said the repairs were expected to cost up to £20 million - or nearly one quarter of the £85m original cost of the route. Network Rail, which did not build the 13-mile line, said the first shutdown would be in the week starting on 23 February, and affect only coal trains. A second closure, from 23 March, is expected to force passengers to switch to buses between Alloa and Stirling. (Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Network Rail Stirling  Cambus: Looking east at the new Cambus loop. Entry to the marshalling yard was to the right.  Alloa: Tracklifting at Alloa! Rails and sleepers lifted and temporarily relocated at Alloa station on 28 February 2008 while ballast is being removed. Corrective work has proved necessary following checks wh ... |
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Ministers have told Network Rail and ScotRail their performance is unacceptable and must urgently improve, The Scotsman has learned.
News of the dressing down to the track firm and Scotland's main train operator came as rail regulators today also criticised their record. The Office of Rail Regulation said train delays caused by Network Rail had got worse, with track problems forcing speed restrictions, especially on the Stirling-Alloa line and routes north of Inverness. It also said passenger hold-ups caused by ScotRail were 22 per cent worse than target, mainly caused by train faults. (Permalink) Alloa Far North Lines Network Rail ScotRail Stirling |
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Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line requires a major programme of renewal work - just five years after it opened at a cost of £85m.
Network Rail say some sections of the 13-mile track require work to cope with coal train traffic. Although the cost of the upgrade has yet to be determined, some sources say the final bill could be as much as £17m. Work on the line started in 2005 and it was opened in 2008, allowing passengers to travel by train between Stirling and Alloa for the first time in 40 years and coal trains to journey between Hunterston and Longannet Power Station, at Kincardine. (Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Longannet Power Station Network Rail Stirling  Alloa West Junction: 170 477 with the 1041 service to Glasgow Queen Street on 19 November passing Alloa Cricket Club with Dumyat Hill dominating the background. Alloa: A train from Glasgow via Stirling arrives at Alloa station on 19 May 2008, the first day of public service on the recently reopened line.  Kincardine: EWS 66083 passes below Kincardine Bridge on 5 April 2008, hauling the first coal train from Hunterston Import Terminal to use the newly reopened line between Stirling and Longannet power station. In t ... |
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One of Scotland's newest railway lines will have to be largely rebuilt at a cost of up to £17 million - just five years after it was opened.
The Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line is expected to be closed for periods over the next five years while 'pretty extensive engineering work' is carried out, according to sources. Network Rail has confirmed it is planning substantial repairs to the line, which was built by other firms. The work - costing a fifth of the original construction price - is likely to involve excavation down to the foundations in places. (Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Network Rail Stirling  Cambus: Scene east of Cambus on 17 October 2006. The sleepers are now laid here, including those for a new loop to the east of the former station.  Kincardine: Nearly there. The final stretch of tracklaying on the approach to Longannet from the west on 19 April 2007, with the power station dominating the background. |
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EGIP has delivered a number of key infrastructure and service improvements, including the electrification of Haymarket Tunnel and new services introduced on the Edinburgh Glasgow via Shotts and Carstairs lines. The £27 million redevelopment of Haymarket Station is expected to open to the public in December 2013 and route clearance works in advance of the electrification of the Edinburgh Glasgow and Stirling-Alloa-Dunblane lines are well underway.
(Permalink) Alloa EGIP Electrification Haymarket Tunnel Shotts |
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Residents throughout the region have set up a special group to continue the fight against problems they say stem from the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line.
Those who have consistently complained about sleep deprivation, potential health problems and the devaluation of properties as a result of freight trains thundering past their respective homes since the new part of the line was opened in 2008 have formed an action group. (Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Stirling  Clackmannan and Kennet: DBS 66154 with the 6G06 10.23 Hunterston - Longannet loaded hoppers at Clackmannan on 25 May 2010.
Kincardine: EWS 66083 passes below Kincardine Bridge on 5 April 2008, hauling the first coal train from Hunterston Import Terminal to use the newly reopened line between Stirling and Longannet power station. In t ...  Alloa: EWS 66004 passes through Alloa on its way back to Hunterston on 4 March 2009 with Longannet empties, dwarfing the 3-car 170 at the station platform forming the next service to Glasgow Queen Street. |
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New railway stations will be opened and others upgraded under a new £30 million Scottish Stations Investment Fund announced by transport minister Keith Brown in Alloa today.
The move is the latest of a flurry of transport developments unveiled by the Scottish Government in the run-up to the council elections in May. The fund will operate for five years from 2014. (Permalink) Alloa New station |
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An MSP has called for greater Scottish powers to tackle the problem of freight trains on the Stirling to Alloa line.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Stirling  Alloa West Junction: A fond farewell to Kodachrome slide film, the processing of which finally ceased in December 2010 after 75 years. This is one of the last rail images to pass through the sole remaining laboratory in K ...  Kincardine: Coal for Longannet power station, hauled by 66016, photographed between the two road bridges on the northern approach to Kincardine on 23 April 2010. Through the rain and mist in the right background ...  Clackmannan and Kennet: Freightliner 70003 with the 4C07 13.26 Longannet - Ravenstruther empties at Clackmannan on 25 May 2010.
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A fifth of the new Alloa-Kincardine rail line does not meet Network Rail specifications, it emerges.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Network Rail Stirling |
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A flood of compensation claims have been submitted from fed-up residents affected by the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine (SAK) all-night freight train service.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Stirling |
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More than twice the number of passengers predicted are using Alloa's rail link one year after it re-opened.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Stirling |
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Transport Scotland announce plans to boost services out of Alloa to Edinburgh from May this year.
(Permalink) Alloa Edinburgh Kincardine Stirling Transport Scotland  Alloa: The Rotary Club of Alloa barrel-train on the platform at Alloa station.  Alloa: A bright and sunny May morning in 2012 sees a train of coal empties from Longannet Power Station heading west along the Alloa station bypass line on the way back to Hunterston.  Alloa: One of the two new Rotary Club of Alloa barrell trains at Alloa station. |
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Noise from heavy coal trains on the Alloa rail link leads to a huge increase in complaints, Network Rail admits.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Network Rail Stirling |
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Transport bosses are to consider extending Alloa's new rail link 20 miles east to Rosyth.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Rosyth Stirling |
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A new study has shown the number of people using the new Alloa rail link has exceeded all expectations.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Stirling Alloa: The Rotary Club of Alloa barrel-train on the platform at Alloa station. Alloa: A bright and sunny May morning in 2012 sees a train of coal empties from Longannet Power Station heading west along the Alloa station bypass line on the way back to Hunterston. Alloa: One of the two new Rotary Club of Alloa barrell trains at Alloa station. |
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Transport bosses consider extending the new Alloa rail link to Edinburgh as part of moves to reduce car use.
(Permalink) Alloa Edinburgh Alloa: The Rotary Club of Alloa barrel-train on the platform at Alloa station. Alloa: A bright and sunny May morning in 2012 sees a train of coal empties from Longannet Power Station heading west along the Alloa station bypass line on the way back to Hunterston. Alloa: One of the two new Rotary Club of Alloa barrell trains at Alloa station. |
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A ticket machine for passengers using Alloa's new train station is operational, First Scotrail says.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine ScotRail Stirling Ticket Machine |
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First Scotrail says a ticket machine will be installed at Alloa train station after it was criticised for the oversight.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine ScotRail Stirling Ticket Machine |
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FirstScotrail says it is working to resolve ticketing problems for passengers travelling on Scotland's newest railway line.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine ScotRail Stirling Ticket Machine |
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A man whose grandfather and great-grandfather worked on the railway has become the first passenger for 40 years to buy a ticket at Alloa train station.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine ScotRail Stirling Alloa: The Rotary Club of Alloa barrel-train on the platform at Alloa station. Alloa: A bright and sunny May morning in 2012 sees a train of coal empties from Longannet Power Station heading west along the Alloa station bypass line on the way back to Hunterston. Alloa: One of the two new Rotary Club of Alloa barrell trains at Alloa station. |
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Direct rail services between Stirling, Alloa are set to recommence after a break of 40 years.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine ScotRail Stirling Alloa: A train from Glasgow via Stirling arrives at Alloa station on 19 May 2008, the first day of public service on the recently reopened line. |
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27 March 2008. EWS, part of the DB Schenker organisation, today welcomes the announcement from Transport Scotland that the Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine rail link in central Scotland will be fully commissioned by 31 March 2008, with normal scheduled freight and passenger train services operating from 19 May 2008. Once the route has been fully commissioned, EWS will introduce a comprehensive driver training programme to enable freight trains to be taken over the route once the new line is opened. This will see coal trains switched from the existing Forth Bridge route to the new route via Alloa. These trains will be switched in a gradual manner in the weeks following the official opening date, and other freight trains will also be able to use the new rail route via Alloa. The re-opening of the rail link from Stirling Alloa Kincardine will help provide much needed additional rail capacity across the rail network in central Scotland.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine Stirling |
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A train has pulled in to Alloa station for the first time in 40 years as the reopening of an abandoned line approaches.
(Permalink) Alloa Kincardine ScotRail Stirling |
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The Strategic Rail Authority has set out its priorities in Scotland for the next ten years. Edinburgh Waverley is to be re-built with further through platforms at a cost of £400 million. This work will involve connecting the bay platforms 8&9 and 12&13, raising the glass roof and providing another platform to the south of the station. The work is required as the station will reach capacity in the next year. Stirling to Alloa is to be re-opened to passengers within 5 years. It is also hoped that Stirling to Kincardine will also re-open to freight. Hamilton to Larkhall is to be re-opened and a Milngavie to Larkhall service to be introduced within 5 years. This may also include the re-opening of the Anniesland to Maryhill curve. Platforms will be extended on the Fife Circle which will allow longer trains to run, increasing passenger capacity. Platforms will also be extended on the Glasgow to Ayr line. Platforms will be extended on the East Kilbride Branch. Platforms will be extended on the Bathgate Branch. TPWS will be fully implemented by 2003. Increased capacity will be provided between Glasgow and Paisley. This could be re-signalling or re-quadrupling the line. Increased capacity will be provided between Glasgow and Kilmarnock. This will probably be through adding a new dynamic loop on the single track section between Barrhead and Kilmarnock which is currently only broken at Lugton. 140 stations are to be modernised. Construction of new interchange stations or re-building of existing stations will include Gourock, Markinch and Partick. Refurbishment for 318s and reliability improvements to 170s. Extension of Sunday services on the Shotts and East Kilbride Lines. A new national test track to be established. As a result of various schemes 6 new stations will open; Alloa, Newcraighall, Brunstane, Gartcosh, Larkhall and Beauly. Longer term plans include East Coast Main Line upgrading (to complete by 2010) and lines to Glasgow Airport and Edinburgh Airport. There is an element of uncertainty as the ScotRail franchise is due for renewal and the future of Railtrack is not clear at this stage. The West Coast Main Line enhancements to allow 140mph running may not go ahead.
(Permalink) Alloa Anniesland Beauly Brunstane Class 170 Class 318 Edinburgh Airport Edinburgh Waverley Gartcosh Glasgow Airport Gourock Kincardine Larkhall Markinch Maryhill New station Newcraighall Partick Railtrack SRA ScotRail Stirling TPWS |
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Railtrack
Post Hatfield Crash repairs On the 15th there were three locations affected by Gauge Corner Cracking. 200 points and 75,000 yards of track have been renewed. Junction remodeling 40 junctions which are known to be bottlenecks are to be remodeled. Speed restrictions As of the 15th 53 speed restrictions existed in Scotland. New station facilities and station regeneration 81 stations have been identified for new toilets. New Information Systems (CIS) will be installed at Hyndland, Partick and Queen Street Low Level. Partick station is to be refurbished and platforms resurfaced. Gourock station is due to be rebuilt and Railtrack is in discussion with developers. Perth station is to be regenerated with footbridges and canopies renewed. Broughty Ferry has been rebuilt at the cost of £1,000,000. Train Protection Warning System Installation of Train Protection Warning System on Scotland's railways and trains continues and is expected to be complete by December 2002. Edinburgh Crossrail The contracts for the Edinburgh Crossrail scheme (reopening of freight only route from Portobello to Brunstane and Newcraighall to passengers) have been signed with the council and contractors. Stirling to Alloa and Dunfermline The details of reopening the closed but mostly extant line from Stirling to Alloa and on to Kincardine have not yet been resolved. Larkhall to Milngavie Although there have been some doubts about the reopening of the closed line between Larkhall and Hamilton, Railtrack and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive are continuing discussions. Aberdeen to Inverness improvements Railtrack is considering its options for improving capacity of the Aberdeen to Inverness line. A loop may be opened at Orton. Forres loop may be altered to run by the Forres goods loop and a two platform station opened on the loop. Signalboxes between Elgin and Nairn may be closed. Proposals will be drawn up to 'level 4' (complete design) and given to the Strategic Rail Authority by the end of the year. Actual changes will be delayed as work on signaling is being focused on installing Train Protection Warning System until December 2002. Members of the RPC and public suggested that perhaps a section of double track at the beginning of the route in Aberdeen and Inverness would help - such as that which the Inverness and Perth has. It was also commented that the station at Keith can be a bottleneck as the loop is located to the east of the station - a train at the station has to occupy the Keith to Elgin section and consequently trains have to be held at Keith loop or Elgin loop when there is a train at the station. Cornton Level Crossing Cornton Level crossing, by Stirling, is fitted with cameras which photograph every road vehicle which passes through the lights at red. 250 vehicles were photographed between January and May this year, many belonging to local people. The crossing has been checked and complies to safety standards. The council and Railtrack are considering further traffic calming options including permanent closure of the road. Ninewells The council in Dundee is considering opening a station at Ninewells which would serve new developments in the area, the airport and Ninewells Hospital. Tay Bridge repair Repairs to the Tay Bridge are due to be complete in 2003 and will allow higher speed running on the bridge and freight to pass over it. Edinburgh Park Railtrack and New Edinburgh Ltd have resolved difficulties and a station at Edinburgh Park can now be built. It could be open by 2003. (Permalink) Alloa Brunstane Cornton Level Crossing Crash Edinburgh Crossrail Elgin Forres Glasgow Queen Street Hatfield Hyndland Larkhall Nairn New station Newcraighall Ninewells Partick Perth Portobello Railtrack TPWS Tay Bridge |
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- 318s for the North Berwick service, but not yet
- DMUs borrowed from 'sister' National Express companies to cover for aged 305s on the North Berwick service if necessary - North Berwick route to be re-railed in September - New stop to pick up passengers on ScotRail sleepers at Carstairs - Stirling to Alloa to Kincardine line to be progressed but not clear yet whether freight only, or passenger only between Stirling and Alloa - Railtrack keen to alter Edinburgh Waverley layout for further capacity (Permalink) Alloa Class 305 Class 318 Edinburgh Waverley Kincardine Railtrack ScotRail Stirling |
KML version
