News - Levenmouth line
| Contact the news and picture editor. |
|
Themes ScotRail Levenmouth Line Inverness Storm Gerrit Flooding Inter7City Caledonian MacBrayne Broughty Ferry Dundee Leven Tree on line HS2 HST Ayr Intercity 125 Kilwinning Wick Dyce West Highland Line Carlisle Thames Tunnel ORR Station Statistics Thurso EuroStar Glasgow Accessability Winchburgh Mind the gap Cupar Ayr Station Hotel MV Isle of Islay Glasgow District Subway
|
Scotland’s newest railway has taken a significant step towards completion. Trains have been given the green light to use the brand-new Levenmouth Rail Link. The national infrastructure agency, Network Rail, commissioned the signalling system on the line. The move brings reconnection to network operations a step closer. The short spur will provide services to communities ...
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line |
|
Network Rail has commissioned the signalling system on the new 116m Levenmouth Rail Link - meaning trains can use the line.
(Permalink) Leven Levenmouth Line |
|
The move marked the beginning of driver training ahead of the line's official opening later this year.
(Permalink) Leven Levenmouth Line |
|
The company regularly leaves gates wide open at the former Doubledykes crossing, despite stopping public access last year for safety reasons.
(Permalink) Doubledykes Level Crossing Levenmouth Line |
|
Community centres and a new railway line are also on the cards in the coming 12 months.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Leven Levenmouth Line  Cameron Bridge: A road-railer and trailer pass through Cameron Bridge on 20th December 2023. This view looking east with more activity in the new station beyond the bridge.
 Leven: Looking east from the Fife Heritage Railway compound, to the inner crossover on the new Leven Railway, with the terminus in the distance 29 December 2023.
 Leven: Looking west from the Bawbee Bridge, over the new Leven platform, on 20 December 2023.
|
|
On 25 August, Scotland's Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop and Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland's Railway installed the final golden pandrol clip to mark the completion of track laying on the Levenmouth Rail Link project. This work entailed laying 19km of track over a number of phases since March 2022. Rail Engineer explained how this ...
(Permalink) Leven Levenmouth Line |
|
The new Bawbee bridge officially opened to traffic on Tuesday (28 November), earlier than had been planned.
(Permalink) Bawbee Bridge Leven Levenmouth Levenmouth Line Methil |
|
There are still hopes of establishing a new crossing over the Levenmouth rail link as talks continue.
(Permalink) Doubledykes Level Crossing Levenmouth Line |
|
Theres no chance of reinstating a public right of way at the Doubledykes rail crossing, councillors were told for the first time on Tuesday - but that doesnt mean that plans to reopen a public crossing are dead in the water.
(Permalink) Doubledykes Crossing Levenmouth Line |
|
A date has been set for the opening of the new River Leven Road bridge, known locally as the Bawbee Bridge.
(Permalink) Bawbee Bridge Leven Levenmouth Line |
|
Network Rail has announced a date for the opening of the new River Leven Road (Bawbee) bridge following completion of work to rebuild the section above Leven station.
(Permalink) Bawbee Bridge Leven Levenmouth Line |
|
Levenmouth Rail Project continues to develop and soon Riverside residents could see a railway maintenance compound pop up on a small piece of industrial land.
(Permalink) Durie Foundry Levenmouth Line |
|
The reopening of the Levenmouth Rail Link, which will mark the return of passenger rail services to the region for the first time since the 1960s, has presented ScotRail with ...
(Permalink) Leven Levenmouth Line |
|
ScotRail are holding a public consultation on a proposed new timetable for services between Edinburgh, Fife, and the Tay Cities, including services to the new stations at Cameron Bridge and Leven.
As the Levenmouth Rail Link reopens, ScotRail are taking the opportunity to propose changes to the timetable that will benefit people across Fife, based on feedback received from customers and stakeholders. (Permalink) Cameron Bridge Dundee Edinburgh Fife Leven Levenmouth Line Perth ScotRail Timetable |
|
Nine young people have taken their first steps on the path to a potential career in the rail industry.
(Permalink) Leven Levenmouth Line |
|
Businesses across Levenmouth are being encouraged to ensure they are ready for the return of a rail link for the first time in 50 years.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Leven Levenmouth Levenmouth Line  Leven: Job done. Track has been laid to the platform ends at Leven with a continuous line of rails from Thornton North Junction. A crossover remains to be inserted. 19 August 2023
 Leven: A crossover was being installed on 30 August 2023, just short of Leven station. |
|
|
|
A shortage of rolling stock and drivers could result in fewer trains than expected, at least to begin with.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line Train shortage  Leven: Not quite as alarming as it looks, the switch assembly of a turnout is swung into position. In the background is the new Leven Station and the replaced Bawbee Bridge.
Leven: Job done. Track has been laid to the platform ends at Leven with a continuous line of rails from Thornton North Junction. A crossover remains to be inserted. 19 August 2023
|
|
A new and improved car park will be funded and built by Network Rail as part of the Levenmouth Rail Link project.
(Permalink) Car park Leven Levenmouth Levenmouth Line |
|
Scotland's Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, has today installed the final pandrol clip to mark completion of track laying on the Levenmouth Rail Link project.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line  Leven: Scotland's Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, has today installed the final pandrol clip to mark completion of track laying on the Levenmouth Rail Link project. Leven: Job done. Track has been laid to the platform ends at Leven with a continuous line of rails from Thornton North Junction. A crossover remains to be inserted. 19 August 2023
|
|
Campaigners claim the £116m rail project is in danger of splitting communities, with access improving in Levenmouth while people in Glenrothes lose out.
(Permalink) Doubledykes Level Crossing Levenmouth Line |
|
Doubledykes is one of five level crossings about to close as work on the Levenmouth rail link progresses, despite a high-profile campaign to save it.
(Permalink) Doubledykes Level Crossing Levenmouth Line  Double Dykes Level Crossing: 'You shall not pass'. Looking east from Double Dykes level crossing. 19 July. |
|
A mysterious 'third track' has been spotted in the latest lighthearted twist to the eagerly anticipated new railway in Fife, in Scotland. Already being sensibly built to double track standard from the outset, a third track has been spotted by keen-eyed Levenmouth watchers.
(Permalink) KFRPS Levenmouth Line Mountfleurie Crossing  Mountfleurie Crossing: Mountfleurie (not Flurie as spelled by Network Rail) crossing with sleepers being set out. In the right foreground is the Fife Heritage Railway's demonstration line.  Mountfleurie Crossing: View west showing the Mountfleurie crossing. The new line is to the left and KFRPS line to the right.
Network Rail has submitted a planning application to Fife Council to build a bridge over the ne ... |
|
Network Rail is seeking planning permission to build a footbridge over both the railway and the heritage railway along the Mountfleurie to Kirkland Path.
(Permalink) Footbridge Levenmouth Line Mountfleurie Level Crossing  Mountfleurie Crossing: DRS 66122 stops at Mountfleurie crossing with sleepers being deposited for the Up line. |
|
Jenny Gilruth, Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Mid-Fife and Glenrothes visited the site of Levenmouth Rail Link project to see first-hand the latest progress on the £116m Scottish Government investment.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line |
|
Heritage rides running alongside the £116m project offer a great chance to view the developments.
(Permalink) Fife Heritage Railway Levenmouth Line  Kirkland Yard: Looking west over the Fife Heritage Railway compound at Kirkland Yard in July 2023. A new headshunt has been laid, using salvaged track from the Methil branch which is being relaid to the left. |
|
A call has been made to use Levelling Up funding to save a historic crossing at risk of closure as part of the new Levenmouth rail link.
(Permalink) Double Dykes Level Crossing Land access Leven Railway Levenmouth Line Double Dykes Level Crossing: 'You shall not pass'. Looking east from Double Dykes level crossing. 19 July. |
|
Councillor Colin Davidson, convener of the Local Area Committee, visited the site of the Levenmouth Rail link project to see first-hand Levenmouth Academy pupils participating in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workshops.
(Permalink) Leven Leven Railway Levenmouth Levenmouth Line |
|
Glenrothes MP Peter Grant was speaking during a UK Parliament debate as part of the growing campaign to keep the crossing open.
(Permalink) Double Dykes Level Crossing Land access Levenmouth Line Network Rail Right of Way  Double Dykes Level Crossing: New signage at the Double Dykes Level Crossing, looking towards Thornton North Junction on 26th October 2022.
|
|
A new survey has been launched on bus services across Levenmouth ahead of the re-opening of the Leven rail link.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Levenmouth Levenmouth Line |
|
Track work on the Levenmouth Rail Link has passed the half-way point.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Double track Levenmouth Line Tracklaying  Double Dykes Level Crossing: March 2023 view of a double track section on the new Levenmouth line.  Cameron Bridge: Looking east over Cameron Bridge (2nd) on 10 March 2023 with platforms under construction.
 Leven: Looking up river from the Bawbee Bridge with the new Leven platforms under construction. 10 March. Image 85327 suggests these are the walls of an island platform.
|
|
Work to complete the re-opening of the Leven branch line will see the parapets of a bridge raised, according to a new planning submission. Network Rail has submitted a prior approval notice to Fife Council to carry out the work at Elmpark Sawmill, Leven. Its focus is a metal bridge over the railway which is also a designated core path [The Sawmill Bridge]. In a planning statement, Network Rail said: The existing parapets comprise metal girders. The parapets are approximately 1.4 metres high and as such are non-compliant with electrification standards.
(Permalink) Bridge parapets Electrification Levenmouth Line Planning permission  Kirkland Loop: Looking east towards the mouth of the Leven, with the river on the right, on 3rd November 2021. Up to four lines occupied the track bed. Behind the camera, in a corner of the former Kirkland Yard, lif ... |
|
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  Leven: Looking south from the Bawbee Bridge, over the site for the new Leven 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. |
|
Work is underway to reintroduce rail services to an economically disadvantaged corner of Scotland. The primary goal is to bring passenger services to around 50,000 people, resident in the East Neuk of Fife. However, the design of the Levenmouth Rail Link has been made to accommodate the introduction of freight services.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line  Cameron Bridge: Network Rail has started work to build the new Cameron Bridge station.  Leven: River scouring protection works alongside the line near the site of the future Leven station.  Cameron Bridge [1st]: Looking west from Station Road at Cameron Bridge on 13 January 2023. Some remnants of track, including a turnout, await disposal from the site having been removed from the far end of the yard, adjacen ... |
|
More than 1,100 people have signed a petition against level crossing closures at the new Levenmouth railway line.
(Permalink) Double Dykes Level Crossing Land access Levenmouth Line Double Dykes Level Crossing: New signage at the Double Dykes Level Crossing, looking towards Thornton North Junction on 26th October 2022.
|
|
Network Rail has registered a prior approval request with Fife Council for the work at Woodbank Farm to allow the farmer to continue to have access to both sides of the railway line. The underpass is needed with the closure of the private Woodbank 2 Level Crossing. [The crossing is a little west of Cameron Bridge. -RS]
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line Little Park Plantation Level Crossing Woodbank 2 Level Crossing |
|
The Levenmouth Rail Link project has been recognised by the Institute of Collaborative Working for its ground-breaking approach to project delivery.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line |
|
Plans to regenerate two key areas of Fife are in need of the public's views to help shape the future of the area.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line River Leven  Leven: This view looking west from the Bawbee Bridge shows embankment works alongside the River Leven, beyond the concrete retaining wall. 26th October 2022. |
|
School pupils in Fife are being given the chance to participate in a range of community sports thanks to a partnership between Active Fife and Levenmouth Rail Link project.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line |
|
Work to lay the foundations that will pave the way for the electrification of the Levenmouth Rail Link is about to get underway.
(Permalink) Electrification Levenmouth Line |
|
As work continues to deliver the £116m Levenmouth Rail Link, Member of Parliament (MP) Wendy Chamberlain, visited the site to meet the team and find out more about the latest progress that has been made on the project.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line  Leven: As work continues to deliver the £116m Levenmouth Rail Link, Member of Parliament (MP) Wendy Chamberlain, visited the site to meet the team and find out more about the latest progress that has b ... |
|
Network Rail has today submitted the planning applications for the development of new stations at Cameron Bridge and Leven as part of the Levenmouth Rail Link project.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Leven Levenmouth Line  Cameron Bridge: Levenmouth Line; a perspective view of the proposed station at Cameron Bridge.  Leven: Leven perspective view. [An aerial view of the proposed station - to be named Leven or Levenmouth? - with lozenge shaped shelter. -RS] |
|
Network Rail will tonight (3 October) unveil plans for the station developments that will be delivered as part of the £116.6M Levenmouth Rail link project.
Network Rail will unveil the final plans for the new stations at two drop-in events to be held near to the proposed station sites and local people are invited to come along and see the plans - ahead of them being submitted as planning applications to Fife Council. (Permalink) Cameron Bridge Levenmouth Levenmouth Line  Cameron Bridge: Looking east from the A915 bridge towards the compound, and site of the new Cameron Bridge station, on 31 August 2022. See image [[78918]] from November 2021.
|
|
Work to demolish the old station platforms at Cameron Bridge is now complete.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Double track Levenmouth Line  Cameron Bridge: A view of the spoil from the demolition of the older Cameron Bridge station's platform. |
|
Two new stations to serve the Levenmouth rail link have been dismissed as 'glorified bothies' with no toilets.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Levenmouth Line |
|
Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants Rights visited the site of the Levenmouth Rail Link to meet the team delivering the new line in Fife.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge [1st] Levenmouth Line Patrick Harvie  Cameron Bridge [1st]: Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants Rights, visits the cleared site of the original Cameron Bridge station.  Cameron Bridge [1st]: Debris being cleared following the demolition of the island platform at Cameron Bridge.  Cameron Bridge [1st]: With the edging stones removed from the old island platform at Cameron Bridge work commenced on removing the platform itself. This was the scene on 25th August 2022 with an excavator busy removing bri ... |
|
Though Reversing Beeching is a popular aspiration, the question of whether a line should have been closed is quite different from whether it should now be reopened. Providing new rail infrastructure is an expensive business and can only be justified if it offers significant benefits. With some justification, the Levenmouth Rail Campaign (LMRC) has for some time argued that there is a strong case to re-open the six-mile branch line to Leven. This was originally part of the line around the coast of Fife's East Neuk to St Andrews. Following the Beeching Report, this was closed in 1965 although its Leven branch remained open. Nevertheless, British Rail closed the branch to passenger traffic in 1969. It then remained open to freight traffic which ceased about 20 years ago.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Leven Leven Railway Levenmouth Line Methil  Cameron Bridge: Increased work volume means more vehicle movements on the project to construct the new Levenmouth rail link. A Moxy crosses a bridge fitted with bog mats and timber.  Leven: The new Levenmouth station site (behind Sainsbury's) seen from the overbridge on 2nd May 2022.
 Cameron Bridge: Looking from the A915 towards Levenmouth, along the cleared track, on 1st December 2020. The buffer stop is the extremity of Cameron Bridge yard, formerly on the double track to Leven. This site is ... |
|
The first train in five years has been signalled on to the Levenmouth rail link in a milestone moment for the multi-million-pound project.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line Thornton North Junction  Thornton North Junction: Grab shot from a passing train of the Levenmouth branch on 10 June 2022. This initial section of the line has been entirely renewed. |
|
Dozens of people are expected to defy a safety warning with a protest picnic on the site of the new Levenmouth railway line this weekend.
(Permalink) Double Dykes Level Crossing Land access Level crossing closure Levenmouth Line Public access  Double Dykes Level Crossing: I had little evident progress to report on the Levenmouth branch apart from this road railer that was tidying the lineside on 3rd August, as seen in this view to the west of the threatened Double Dyke ... Cameron Bridge: Increased work volume means more vehicle movements on the project to construct the new Levenmouth rail link. A Moxy crosses a bridge fitted with bog mats and timber. |
|
Work to build the second mile of new track on the Levenmouth Rail Link is now underway.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line  Tullybreck Level Crossing: Embankments are being reprofiled and upgraded to support double tracking of Levenmouth Rail link. Shown here are benches being cut into into banking. Cameron Bridge: Increased work volume means more vehicle movements on the project to construct the new Levenmouth rail link. A Moxy crosses a bridge fitted with bog mats and timber.  Cameron Bridge: With the River in close proximity, retaining walls are being upgraded to support the future double-tracked railway. [The line was singled in 1972 having been doubled for Methil Docks traffic around 19 ... |
|
Campaigners seeking to save crossing points on the line of the Levenmouth rail link are planning to protest against their closure - by having a picnic.
(Permalink) Level Crossings Levenmouth Line  Tullybreck Level Crossing: The level crossing at Tullybreck, about a kilometre east of Double Dykes crossing, seen in August 2021. Amazingly the up line remained in place. It has been announced that all level crossings on the r ... |
|
Existing crossing points on the line of the Levenmouth rail link will all be closed permanently when it becomes operational again.
(Permalink) Level Crossings Levenmouth Line Tullybreck Level Crossing: The level crossing at Tullybreck, about a kilometre east of Double Dykes crossing, seen in August 2021. Amazingly the up line remained in place. It has been announced that all level crossings on the r ... |
|
Hundreds of people have signed a petition after it emerged there will be no level crossings over the new Levenmouth rail link.
(Permalink) Doubledkyes Level Crossing Land access Levenmouth Line |
|
Detailed plans are being drawn up to transform an old creosote works in Leven into a lush river park. It is part of a £40 million masterplan to regenerate the banks of the River Leven.
(Permalink) Levenmouth Line Regeneration River Leven  Kirkland Yard: An aerial view over the east end of Kirkland Yard (with the Fife Heritage Railway preservation site) looking to Leven, Innerleven and the mouth of the River Leven. |
|
Network Rail has been accused of failing to engage with the community over plans for the Levenmouth rail link. [Article may require subscription. -RS]
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Leven Railway Levenmouth Levenmouth Line Network Rail  Leven: View of the future site of Leven station centred on the Bawbee Bridge. The site of the former Methil Power Station is at the top of the view.  Cameron Bridge: Plan of the proposed new two platform Cameron Bridge station. The station will have two platforms, linked by a footbridge with lifts, on a double track electrified line with a large car park. This wil ... |
|
As work continues to deliver the £116m Levenmouth Rail Link, Peter Grant, Member of Parliament (MP) for Glenrothes and Central Fife visited site to see first-hand progress that has been made on the project.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Leven Railway Levenmouth Line Peter Grant |
|
With the project to reinstate the Levenmouth Rail link now well underway, various elements of work are springing up across the route.
With the proximity of the river and various streams which flow into it, one early and important task is the need to thoroughly inspect the bridges on the route to ensure they are in good condition and structurally sound to carry the new railway. Each structure will be grit-blasted to remove the old paint from the bridge and take it back to the base metal. Corroded sections of the bridge will be replaced and repairs carried out where needed. New timber bridge decks will be installed to strengthen and support what will soon be a double-tracked railway running over them. (Permalink) Bridge repairs Cameron Bridge Levenmouth Levenmouth Line River Leven River Ore Underline bridges  Cameron Bridge [1st]: An encapsulated bridge over the Leven on the route of the Levenmouth line west of Cameron Bridge. With the proximity of the river and various streams which flow into it, one early and important task i ...  Cameron Bridge [1st]: Aerial view east over 'tented' bridge with Cameronbridge Distillery in background. Image provided to Network Rail by contractor Story. |
KML version
