The Levenmouth Blueprint – Keavy O’Neill, Transport Scotland Rail Technology Magazine 30.10.19 The Levenmouth railway link will deliver substantial social benefits and societal opportunities, unlocking access to cultural activities and…
In the December issue of The Railway Magazine Graeme Pickering looks at two reopening proposals in Scotland which could again connect the conurbation of LevenMouth, the university town of St…
As part of the Strategic Assessment and Local Community Planning process, local people across Fife were asked to consider aspects of the physical and social environment where they live and…
Edinburgh City Council Chief Executive Andy Kerr believes the capital will increase its population by 50% over the next 30 years. “The biggest strategic issue” facing Edinburgh was not attracting…
On April 23rd the Levenmouth Rail campaign invited pupils from the local schools and college to mark Scotland’s ‘Year of young people 2018’ to “Walk the Line”. They were accompanied…
And thanks for your excellent help @DavidShirres . Your presentation at our conferences and the booklet you produced undoubtedly had a huge impact on our campaign.
Thanks @NetworkRailSCOT for a fascinating site visit to see work to re-open the Levenmouth branch as a double track electrified railway in spring 2024 for a @therailengineer feature
Credit to @LevenmouthRail whose campaign made this happen. Compare my 2017 photos with todays.
We were thrilled to meet with key members of the Levenmouth community last week. Thank you for your brilliant insight which will be invaluable for our world-first H100 Fife project to connect up to 300 homes in Levenmouth to 100% #hydrogen from 2023. More: https://t.co/Vdwkpjg4VP
Initial membership of #SustainableTransportCPG also includes: @HITRANS_RTP, @LevenmouthRail, @LNER, @NetworkRailSCOT, @POPScotland, @RailfutureScot, @ramblersscot, @stagecoachgroup, @TransformScot, @WCFScot
We are so damned lucky to have David Pratt @foreigncorr1 . Simply the best.
David Pratt on Twitter
“A very long thread of photographs here. One month filming the next two documentaries for @BBCScotland following on from Pictures From Afghani...
twitter.com
As the reopening of the line becomes a reality, the Campaign is slightly concerned that politicians might reinterpret the recent history, for example, in a recent press release by MP Peter Grant (see attached article where credit is allocated to others and .."as well as vital support from the people of Levenmouth " added almost as an afterthought. This is not a party political point and we recognise the critical role of elected reps, Council and Scottish Govt.
However, getting this far has been a major, collective achievement but this was actually driven by the community when others seem to have given up. Previous efforts, such as the major push in 2008, were indeed pushed by elected representatives, led by MSP Tricia Marwick and Fife Council, but failed. It took the Campaign’s mobilization of the community and its determination and persistence to revive the whole effort to achieve the breakthrough. We relied on excellent support from Council and elected representatives, across the parties, especially Glenrothes MSP Jenny Gilruth, but also rail experts and others but there were times between March 2014 and August 2019 when we felt we were ploughing a lonely furrow. We need this documented so that the driving role of this community effort is duly recognized and to encourage others to believe that the community, even in Levenmouth, can get things done.
Elsewhere we understand that a historic crossing of the line south of Coaltown of Balgonie is being closed with no nearby alternative planned. The next meeting of LMRC is on Tuesday 31st May from 6.30 at FRIC (also on zoom). For more info, tel 07903366529, email LMRC @mail.com or check our facebook pages
www.companyinsight.co.uk/peter-grant-mp-visits-levenmouth-rail-link/
Peter Grant MP visits Levenmouth Rail Link | Company Insight
(Network Rail) Tuesday 10 May 2022 Peter Grant MP visits Levenmouth Rail Link Region & Route: Scotland’s Railway: Scotland As work continues to deliver the £116mYes, this was most certainly community led. Supported by many others for which LMRC are thankful.👏
I question how a right of way whether established by right or custom can simply be closed, especially with no means of crossing anywhere between the town of Thornton and Windygates. So much for off road active travel routes and connecting communities.
So in essence we at the very minimum need to actively protest and raise the profile of this decision ASAP. My biggest gripe is the lack of consultation and the waffle or responses coming from network rail regarding the crossing. If necessary I could easily pull hundreds of strava files from various mountain bikers showing the amount of crossings at this point it also makes no sense when just north of Ladybank Station there's a gate for people crossing the east coast mainline which is double track as well. The awful thing is it makes people look like thier moaning and don't want the line which isn't the case at all.
Not surprised to hear NR want to close the level crossing - I'm assuming this is the one where there was latterly a gate across the line when the line was used for the opencast? Sadly I think the only way of getting any confirmation of the legal position on that one would be to challenge the decision in court: it is a right of way, but NR claim all such rights across the line were extinguished by the act of parliament which authorised the line. I also completely agree with what you have said about the importance of your campaign.
Which crossing is to be closed?
Further insights into some of the ongoing renovation work along the line...seems the bridges are in reasonable condition given their age.
projectscot.com/2022/05/full-steam-ahead-for-116m-levenmouth-rail-project/
Full steam ahead for £116m Levenmouth rail project | Project Scotland
A senior project manager on the £116 million Levenmouth rail project has told of the team’s ‘pleasant surprise’ at the condition of 19th century bridges on the route, which are currently being ...The whole line was still in use until 2000, so would presumably have been actively maintained by Network Rail until that date.
This is so interesting.
Slightly surprising to see a 24 hour telephone ‘helpline’ listed offering to respond to queries raised but those interested please note this. Some early guidance continues to be sought, among others, by the Campaign on the following key unresolved issues:
- freight (and the location of the promised freight terminal)
- crossings and also access routes to stations esp Cameron Bridge
- station design and facilities
Time is passing for community input, as opposed to the presentation of settled decisions.
news.railbusinessdaily.com/levenmouth-rail-link-progress-update/
Levenmouth Rail Link progress update | RailBusinessDaily
Glenrothes and Central Fife MP Peter Grant has visited the £116 million Levenmouth Rail Link project to see first-hand progress that has been made on the Glenrothes and Central Fife MP Peter Grant ha...Should we bombard the helpline about community input into the stations???
Your scheme is laudable, but Government stops short of even-handedness across the whole nation: www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/news/traffic/portishead-bristol-rail-link-decision-delayed-again-890... Grant Shapps Department for Transport HM Treasury
