Rail passengers warned of disruption as electrification works set to close part of Edinburgh

Rail passengers in Fife are being advised to plan ahead for journeys to Edinburgh next month as essential engineering works will close part of the line.

Engineers are due to start installing overhead line equipment between Haymarket and Dalmeny for the Fife electrification project from January 17 to 25.

Part of the Edinburgh - Fife line is to close for a time in January to allow engineering works to take place as part of the electrification programme. (Pic: Network Rail)

placeholder image — Part of the Edinburgh - Fife line is to close for a time in January to allow engineering works to take place as part of the electrification programme. (Pic: Network Rail)

The work involves demolishing and rebuilding several bridges at a higher height to create space for the new infrastructure. In places where bridges can’t be raised, the track will be lowered.

The project is part of the £342m programme to electrify routes in Fife and the Borders, funded by the Scottish Government. It will enable electric trains to operate on the route in the future, delivering greener travel and improving the reliability and sustainability of services.

To allow the upgrades to take place efficiently and safely, the line between Haymarket and Dalmeny will be closed during this period, with some services diverted or replaced by buses.

Passengers are advised to check their journey before travelling using National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator.

Catherine Hall, strategy and investment director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “This work is about future proofing one of Scotland’s busiest rail routes, paving the way for battery-electric trains.

"It will help increase capacity, improve reliability, and deliver more accessible, comfortable and sustainable journeys.

“We know there’s never an ideal time to close any part of the railway, and we appreciate the patience of passengers and local residents while these improvements take place. Our teams have planned the work carefully to keep the impact to a minimum, and we’ll continue to keep people informed every step of the way.”

Those routes with planned changes from January 17 to 25 include ScotRail’s services: Edinburgh – Perth (via Kirkcaldy); Edinburgh – Dundee/Aberdeen (via Kirkcaldy); Edinburgh – Leven (via Kirkcaldy); Edinburgh – Leven (via Dunfermline) and Edinburgh – Cowdenbeath/Glenrothes.

Changes will also be made to the Caledonian Sleeper, LNER and Cross Country services between Edinburgh and Dundee/Aberdeen.

Passengers are encouraged to check with their train operator or nationalrail.co.uk before travelling.