R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

Route characteristics
DESCRIPTION The Route consists of three distinct elements, Inverkeithing
Central Junction–Thornton North and South Junctions (Fife Inner Circle), Drem
Junction–North Berwick, and Newbridge Junction–Bathgate.
The Fife Circle is double track used by both freight and passenger traffic.
Maximum speed is 65mph with the capability to carry 25-tonne axle weights
between Inverkeithing and Cowdenbeath.
The Bathgate line is a mixture of double- and single-track railway, which is
primarily used by passenger trains with a maximum linespeed of 75mph, but can
also carry trains up to 25-tonne axle weight.
Route vision
The Edinbu rgh and Fife Route is set to act as the springboard for the future publ i c
t ra n s p o rt netwo rk of Scotland’s capital, curr e n t ly awaiting the establishment of the
Scottish Pa rliament. Serving the communities of West Fife, and parts of West and
East Lothian, it is well positioned to take a leading role in relieving Edinbu rg h ’s
ove r-stretched road netwo rk, which relies heav i ly upon the Forth Road Bridge and
on the A720 ring road. This will be achieved by improving existing serv i c e s ,
increased frequency of service and by growing new marke t s .
Our vision is of a route that expands to form a network of railway lines at
the core of the city’s urban transport requirements. It would then enable the
provision of through services from Inverkeithing, West Calder and Bathgate to
Kinnaird Park, with its shopping centres and proposed housing developments,
eventually extending outwards to Dalkeith, Penicuik and the Borders. This would
see the renaissance of railway travel in and around Edinburgh. These and other
routes, would link with the bus network with the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit
Route development and customer requirements
ScotRail has increased the frequency of trains to Bathgate and to Fife which
requires a very reliable infrastructure. To ensure reliability for these services we
have introduced enhanced maintenance at key junctions to maintain and improve
performance.
EWS requires improved access and reliability for their trains to and from
Longannet power station.
Local authorities The authorities are keen to see a growth in the use of rail
passenger transport and associated facilities.
• The introduction of the Edinbu rgh CrossRail scheme to Kinnaird Pa rk. In
p a rt n e rship with The City of Edinbu rgh and ScotRail, we have initiated proposals
and will take these forward fo l l owing a satisfactory funding agreement.
The North Berwick Branch is a four-mile long, single-line, passenger-only railway,
electrified throughout with 25kV OLE.
The signalling on the route is by colour-light signals controlled from the
Edinburgh signalling centre.
Based on current projections and customer requirements, there is sufficient
capacity to meet future projections.
System into an integrated transport network serving Parliament and the
administration, the airport, business, and not least the community, allowing an
over-congested road network to function more efficiently with consequential
benefits to the environment. We also support the principle of hypothecation
whereby charges for entering or parking in the City of Edinburgh could be used
to pay for an enhanced railway.
The route in both its current form and in an expanded future is seen as
being vital in providing feeder services to other routes connecting Fife and the
Lothians to the remainder of Scotland and beyond to England and the rest of
Europe.
Coal traffic in Fife has grown in recent years and we predict that this and
other freight traffic will continue to expand. The route is well positioned to
realise ambitions of turning Rosyth into a major East Coast Port, providing
connections to and from the ECML as well as potentially to the west.
• Possible extensions to Dalkeith, Penicuik and onwards to Carlisle (The Borders
Railway).
• The reopening of direct services between Dunfermline and Stirling via Alloa.
• The development of Rosyth docks with associated rail services into a major
east-coast port.
• Improved station facilities.
• New stations eg at Dunfermline Queen Margaret.
Our plans allow for these where appropriate.
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