Highlandspring
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Extra signal sections (and a new interlocking) were added between Haymarket and Inverkeithing as part of a capacity improvement project in 2016.
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Expansions for Scotland's rail network proposed
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Thanks! I must have missed that one happening. Hard to believe that up to 2005 and SAK opening that there were multiple coal trains crawling over the bridge each day
edwin_m
Veteran Member
I remember coal from Seafield in the late 70s/early 80s but I don't know where it went or when it stopped doing so. The use of three class 20s, two one end and one the other, suggests maybe there was a weight restriction along the route (although I think the hoppers were 22.5 tonne axleload).
Steamysandy
Member
Was it not the case that coal crossed the bridge from Ayrshire,then ran round the Fife Circle to Halbeath before heading west through Dunfermline and Cairneyhill to Longannet?
Photohunter71
Member
Did any of them get held at Inverkeithing junction or Thornton yard?
Steamysandy
Member
Not that I'm aware of. What I do recall from my visits to that area was trains sitting at Halbeath,waiting for paths I presume
Photohunter71
Member
They waited at Halbeath?! I never knew that! Pity you don't get any freight trains trundling past in Fife these days!
You do, but not many. At the very least the empty cement wagons from Aberdeen go via the Fife coast.
Steamysandy
Member
When I wrote Halbeath, I meant Townhill.I don't know the area terribly well
Put Kettle On
Member
Draft proposal for upgrading transport links in South Ayrshire & Dumfries & Galloway out for consultation .
To include looking at reopening the Port Road , Dumfries to Stranraer , also Lockerbie to Dumfries , & reopening stations in Ayrshire & Dumfries & Galloway
https://www.transport.gov.scot/medi...hange-south-west-scotland-transport-study.pdf
To include looking at reopening the Port Road , Dumfries to Stranraer , also Lockerbie to Dumfries , & reopening stations in Ayrshire & Dumfries & Galloway
https://www.transport.gov.scot/medi...hange-south-west-scotland-transport-study.pdf
Highland37
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I saw this on the BBC website yesterday:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-48785193
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-48785193
Reopening a Dumfries to Stranraer railway is one of a string of options still on the table for the future of transport in south west Scotland.
Draft proposals have been published and are now out for consultation.
The report for Transport Scotland has narrowed down dozens of potential options to a total of 23.
They include partial dualling of the A75, new stations in a number of towns and increasing the HGV speed limit on trunk roads to 50mph.
The study looked at the entire Dumfries and Galloway region as well as southern parts of South and East Ayrshire.
Image copyrightLES HULL
Image captionReopening the line across Dumfries and Galloway is one of a string of options being looked at
It has now come up with a long list of projects to be taken forward to a national strategic transport review.
They include:
However, some ideas were not taken forward.
- better transport integration at main hubs like Dumfries, Lockerbie and Stranraer
- new railway stations at Cumnock, Thornhill, Eastriggs, Dunragit, Pinwherry, Beattock and south of Ayr
- new rail lines between Dumfries and Stranraer and Dumfries and Lockerbie
- an HGV speed limit increase
- "capacity enhancements" like partial dualling of the A75, A77 and the route between Dumfries and the A74(M) motorway plus bypasses on the A76
They included full dualling of the A75 and A77 or the creation of a new link road from Dumfries to the motorway which were not recommended to be progressed due to their cost and environmental impact.
Image copyrightDAVID DIXON
Image captionFull dualling of the A75 has been ruled out by the study
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said a lot of work had been done during the study to "develop a good understanding of the issues and opportunities" for transport in the area.
"The draft report will now be available for eight weeks to allow all those with an interest to provide comments on it," he said.
"Following this, the emerging recommendations will be considered as part of the nationwide strategic transport projects review which will set out future transport infrastructure investment priorities.
"We have already had valuable local input into the study with more than 3,000 people contributing and we will keep them updated as work progresses.
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Interesting it's in the conversation. IMO the line would need access to Cairnryan so passengers and freight can easily access the ferry. Thinking even further ahead should be future-proofed in case a fixed sea rail crossing ever gets built to Northern Ireland, as the line would be a key access route, may be the only way such a line would make economic sense.
Elwyn
Member
I am not sure where the freight or the foot passengers will come from. Whilst there are hundred of trucks a day crossing to and from Cairnryan, no cross-Channel freight has gone there by train for years. And the foot passengers are minimal these days too. Just a dribble.
The whole scheme would be attempting to induce demand, rather than trying to provide relief capacity. Cairnryan is impractical to get to as a foot passenger for any crossing which would explain why usage is minimal. Don't think cross channel freight would be using it given a lack of rail access to Cairnryan?
Elwyn
Member
I don’t think lack of rail access to Cairnryan really makes much difference. When Stranraer was Stena’s departure port there was rail access right up to it, and yet no freight used it. And latterly, neither did many foot passengers. Foot passengers have all but disappeared on all these Irish routes. Apart from a few day trippers and the odd local businessman, everyone flies to Ireland these days. I doubt restoring the rail link from Stranraer to Dumfries would drum up any significant new business. And certainly not enough to make a good business case.
Mordac
Established Member
A fair few Northern Irish students from Scottish unis to it at the beginning and end of term time. Cheaper to take baggage.
Whilst this is all very good as it's been something that's been needed for a long time, I can't help but think that this will be another project that gets kicked Laidlaw style deep into the long grass given how many other infrastructure projects Transport Scotland and the Scottish Govt have already planned over the next decade or two. The fact that most of them have even been kicked into the long grass gives credence to my opinion.I saw this on the BBC website yesterday:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-48785193
"
Reopening a Dumfries to Stranraer railway is one of a string of options still on the table for the future of transport in south west Scotland.
Draft proposals have been published and are now out for consultation.
The report for Transport Scotland has narrowed down dozens of potential options to a total of 23.
They include partial dualling of the A75, new stations in a number of towns and increasing the HGV speed limit on trunk roads to 50mph.
The study looked at the entire Dumfries and Galloway region as well as southern parts of South and East Ayrshire.
Image copyrightLES HULL
Image captionReopening the line across Dumfries and Galloway is one of a string of options being looked at
It has now come up with a long list of projects to be taken forward to a national strategic transport review.
They include:
However, some ideas were not taken forward.
- better transport integration at main hubs like Dumfries, Lockerbie and Stranraer
- new railway stations at Cumnock, Thornhill, Eastriggs, Dunragit, Pinwherry, Beattock and south of Ayr
- new rail lines between Dumfries and Stranraer and Dumfries and Lockerbie
- an HGV speed limit increase
- "capacity enhancements" like partial dualling of the A75, A77 and the route between Dumfries and the A74(M) motorway plus bypasses on the A76
They included full dualling of the A75 and A77 or the creation of a new link road from Dumfries to the motorway which were not recommended to be progressed due to their cost and environmental impact.
Image copyrightDAVID DIXON
Image captionFull dualling of the A75 has been ruled out by the study
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said a lot of work had been done during the study to "develop a good understanding of the issues and opportunities" for transport in the area.
"The draft report will now be available for eight weeks to allow all those with an interest to provide comments on it," he said.
"Following this, the emerging recommendations will be considered as part of the nationwide strategic transport projects review which will set out future transport infrastructure investment priorities.
"We have already had valuable local input into the study with more than 3,000 people contributing and we will keep them updated as work progresses."
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The thing that most people quote as a reason for reopening the Port Road - freight and traffic to NI from Scotland - just doesnt stand up to scrutiny. Most of the traffic is going to come from the Central Belt. And that route already has a line to Stranraer. You could argue that its slow, limited in capacity etc, but it exists.
The New Port Road line would be doing what the old one did. Providing a connection to NI from Northern England, that is quicker than using Holyhead-Dublin-Belfast. The two largest settlements on the line, Newton Stewart and Castle Douglas, each have a population of just over 4,000. Its simply not going to work.
The New Port Road line would be doing what the old one did. Providing a connection to NI from Northern England, that is quicker than using Holyhead-Dublin-Belfast. The two largest settlements on the line, Newton Stewart and Castle Douglas, each have a population of just over 4,000. Its simply not going to work.
Photohunter71
Member
It's only because I remember the coal trains and Thomsons Mag lime train back in the day! Wasn't aware any freight ran along Fife tracks these days!
Would it work if an Irish sea fixed link with a railway got built?
d9009alycidon
Member
The idea of a tunnel under the North Channel was recently discussed in this thread https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...urotunnel-to-other-places-e-g-ireland.180038/ the general consensus is that it is a non starter for several reasons.
That doesnt solve the fact that the vast majority of the Scottish-Irish traffic comes from the Central Belt, and so wouldnt use the Port Road. Would a fixed link make it worthwhile for freight from Northern England to use that route as opposed to going via Holyhead or Liverpool? Not sure.
Planes are the biggest transport air polluter and environmentalists are out to get them so there may be a change here over the next 30 years in domestic flights.
If you believe that you will believe anything. The only thing that has changed in the last 79 years has been introduction of jet fan engines.
There is no fossil fuel substitute for the jet engine and batteries would not sustain transcontinental flights of prop propelled aircraft even if the whole aircraft was a battery. It would be too heavy to lift off anyway. Ah, I forgot. Chicken Run aircraft would do it.
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