Major disruption for commuters as Fife rail line set to close for two weeks in Autumn
Commuters are facing major disruption to train services across Fife this autumn as the electrification of the main line reaches a critical stage.
For two weeks in October, there will be no trains from Kirkcaldy to Inverkeithing, while Cross County and LNER services between Aberdeen and London, which stop at those stations, will also be hit.
ScotRail has said there will be replacement buses, and some services will be diverted or cancelled as major engineering works get underway on October 10, lasting until the 23rd.
The work forms a key part of the Scottish Government’s £311m bid to electrify 118km of the Fife Circle route and introduce new battery-electric trains.
Engineers are carrying out bridge replacements, track and signalling upgrades, and other improvements. Work is already well underway to demolish Bennochy Bridge in Kirkcaldy - the road over it is closed for up to 12 months - as well as Muriespot bridge near Coaltown of Balgonie, and Main Street in Thornton which will be demolished and rebuilt to accommodate the new trains and electrification infrastructure.
Teams will also upgrade the bridge on Cardenden Road in Cardenden, make track changes, install foundations, and carry out extensive signalling upgrades.
The 13-day line closure will have a significant impact on services between Kirkcaldy Edinburgh, Glenrothes with Thornton, Leven, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness, as well as CrossCountry between Plymouth and Dundee–Aberdeen, and between Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The LNER service London Kings Cross and Aberdeen will be affected.
ScotRail has said from Saturday 10th until Monday 19th, no trains will operate between Inverkeithing and Markinch via Kirkcaldy. Instead they will be diverted via Dunfermline City.
Replacement buses will run between Inverkeithing and Markinch, calling at Dalgety Bay, Aberdour, Burntisland, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes with Thornton. Services will run hourly, with additional buses at peak times.
Between Tuesday 20th and Friday 23rd, no trains will operate between Markinch, Perth and Dundee.
Trains between Edinburgh and Dundee-Aberdeen will divert via Stirling and Perth, where possible), and will not stop at stations in the Fife Circle.
Trains between Edinburgh and Perth will run between Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy, while services between the capital and Leven are not affected. Rail replacement buses will operate between Kirkcaldy, Perth and Dundee.
The line closures will also impact on major journeys.
On Saturday and Monday to Friday, the 8:20 CrossCountry service from Aberdeen to Plymouth service will start from Edinburgh. The 9:27 Plymouth to Aberdeen service will terminate at Edinburgh, and the 21:35 Aberdeen to Edinburgh service will not run
Replacement buses will run between Dundee and Edinburgh in the evenings only.
On the Sunday, the 9:27 Plymouth to Aberdeen service will terminate at Edinburgh, the 12:22 Dundee to Plymouth service will start from the city, and the 21:20 Aberdeen to Edinburgh service will not run
From Saturday 10th to Monday 19th, LNER services will be diverted to run via Dunfermline City, and will not call at stations between Inverkeithing and Leuchars via Kirkcaldy. Replacement buses will run between Inverkeithing and Kirkcaldy.
From Tuesday 20th to Friday 23d, trains will not call at Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldy or Leuchars. Replacement buses will run between Edinburgh and Leuchars only.
For Inverkeithing and Kirkcaldy, passengers can use their ticket at no extra cost on ScotRail replacement buses.
ScotRail has urged commuters to plan their journeys in advance, and factor in additional time as replacement vehicles may be busier than usual.
October also marks the start of a complete closure of Main Street, Thornton, for five months as part of the project. It was originally slated to suit for 14 months until local pressure forced Network Rail to rethink its plans and come up with a shorter timescale.
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