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
Weekly Update @ 13th August: The latest Levenmouth Reconnected Taskgroup meeting provided some updates. Network Rail reported that work is now starting on the second mile of track on the Levenmouth off the mainline from Thornton North Junctions. The first mile of single track is in place and is now fully operational so can be used to bring construction materials by rail as far as Doubledykes. Representations were made as to how a crossing, most likely a bridge, could be created to allow foot and cycle use across the closed crossing but Network Rail state this would require funding from other sources. They seem to be falling back on a very legalistic defense claiming their lawyers had indicated no formal obligation to retain them which falls somewhat short of Transport Scotland policy to promote active travel. Access to the river for other groups such as anglers and river conservation groups, is also being explored
Discussions with Scotrail regarding provision of car parking and related facilities at the two stations. Fife Council reported the stations design should be occurring by early September ahead of Network Rail planning application. Work at the Bawbee Bridge, an entirely new bridge to span the railway section we understand, is proceeding without major difficulty. The design phase of the Levenmouth Connectivity path network should be underway by end year as part of a longer-term investment but routes to and from the stations will be prioritized. The next LMRC meeting, at FRICS and on zoom is on 30th August. More info: tel 07903366529, email LMRC@mail.com or check our facebook pages
Attached photo is from couple of months back
All could have been sorted at initial stages if only they decided to consult or engage with local groups or communities before they just went ahead. Really not good enough at all in this day and age. Network rail acting with impunity and acting like a dictatorship and all funded by taxpayers money as well.
So sad that the railway plan is to close so many crossings. A step backward for local travel in Fife and will push off-road cyclists into going along the road through Thornton ☹️
As regards crossings you have to wonder who is driving the project, Network Rail or the Scottish government. Strangely they parrot verbatim what the other says 🤔
The ballast supply trains that have been running on weekdays to Thornton Yard for the last couple of months are diverting to the Leven Branch from Monday to start a stockpile at Doubledykes so the LX will probably now be closed (maybe forever?). Inbound: www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:B24365/2022-08-15/detailed Outbound: www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:B24366/2022-08-15/detailed This from Network Rail yesterday on progress: www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/safety-message-clear-as-leven-work-ramps-up
What is planned for the crossing between Mountflurie and bottom of steel world brae methil Was always a footbridge in the days when Kirkland sidings Footbridge was dreamed dangerous i believe due to lack of maintenance? Very very long walk got those who go this way
The public rights of way across the railway should be maintained!
Where are we actually going to be able to travel to by train when it's eventually finished???? Thornton, Edinburgh???????
People are diverting via the old iron bridge at the moment....this bridge cannot support this kind of volume!!! its a nightmare as its being used by pedestrians and theyre having to squeeze past traffic, someone is going to get hurt. The organisation of this has been shocking.
10 years down the line no punt intented maybe get another mile
See photo , Anyone who wishes to highlight the crossing issues & implications should attend Jenny Gilruths transport minister advice surgery on Tues 23rd august @ 1pm Sandy brae centre , also heard X58 will cease so no kennoway to Dundee or Edinburgh either ?
The trackbed (and indeed track) between the new Leven station and the roundabout outside Harland & Wolff at the Fife Energy Park are intact and in Network Rail ownership. I'm reposting some images the Campaign used a few years ago but the situation is unchanged there. Seaborne traffic, and well as railfreight could make greater use of this to support the future economic development of the area
The bed is there but alot of the track after the dock entrance at Bayview was lifted years ago but still not that expensive to replace in the grand scheme of things
Critical to ensure no new development on the line at a minimum.
The bridge over the river would need replaced at rhe site of the old power station. Lots of new developments down there to take account of if an extension to the line was to be built.
There are two road crossings of the railway before it gets to the H&W site - Network Rail may want these level crossings be closed and replaced with road bridges over the line were this part of the line to be reopened. Also, the line is blocked before it reaches the roundabout at H&W - Google Earth shows a load of cars parked close together on a site that includes some of the old track bed, and there is also a derelict site to the west of this which uses part of the old trackbed. The roundabout also appears to have been built over where the railway ran, so to get the line into the H&W site it would probably need to cross Heritage Way somehow. Not quite as simply as just replacing the track, cables, signalling and ballast in other words.
While sea-based freight may offer the best links, there are still large loads transported by road to and from Methil Docks and the Fife Energy Park. As a basis for future economic development of this strategic area and also to reduce road carbon emissions, pollution and congestion, there are strong arguments for extending the Levenmouth rail link an extra mile to the Harland and Wolff site - the trackbed is already in place.
www.harland-wolff.com/facilities/methil/
Not only trackbed, the track is still in place! Surely this is the obvious place for a freight terminal, especially if Diagio are not playing ball with Cameron Bridge, and much more accessible than the creosote works site.
They should be a line to lower methil/swan bray for people to use the line down there. 1. Track bed there and footbridge to east fife/docks 2. employment at the brigg Should had three stops. Cameron bridge, leven and lower methil would connect levenmouth for football traffic & employment.
It was only a matter of time before That was brought up, if it was going to be used it would be a darn good idea
Swing it round by diageo as well. Cut pollution, congestion, and make our roads safer and last longer ✌🏼
Seems so obvious when you know the track is still there.
That would make sense
All good but the Carbon Emissions bit is gullible people falling for a con.
Worth a thought!!
