Fife Rail Electrification/Decarbonisation

[TrainViation]

This thread will be dedicated to the later phases of the ongoing Fife Circle Electrification project, and certain aspects around it.

I’d like to ask an initial question. The B9130 road which goes over a cobble bridge at Markinch station is FAR too low to support any means of electric wires or even a raised pantograph. Looking at www.roadworksscotland.org it is listed in several location that bridges too low will be raised or rebuilt to accommodate wires. However, this one is not listed. What is the most likely outcome that this bridge will face in the future to adhere to the electric future?

 

[The exile]

This thread will be dedicated to the later phases of the ongoing Fife Circle Electrification project, and certain aspects around it.

I’d like to ask an initial question. The B9130 road which goes over a cobble bridge at Markinch station is FAR too low to support any means of electric wires or even a raised pantograph. Looking at www.roadworksscotland.org it is listed in several location that bridges too low will be raised or rebuilt to accommodate wires. However, this one is not listed. What is the most likely outcome that this bridge will face in the future to adhere to the electric future?

If it’s at Markinch it will surely be entirely unaffected by any Fife Circle / Leven electrification plans. Only once they start looking at getting wires to Dundee will it be of any relevance.

 

[TrainViation]

If it’s at Markinch it will surely be entirely unaffected by any Fife Circle / Leven electrification plans. Only once they start looking at getting wires to Dundee will it be of any relevance.

The line between Kirkcaldy and Ladybank was listed under the four-phase “Fife Circle” project (even though it isn’t technically in it), so I’m assuming it will be affected at some point soon. As the bridge closures have already been listed in multiple places along the route. As it’s in phase four it could still take a long time, but will still happen. The latest bridge modifications are set to begin spring of next year towards Ladybank.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Just to remind everyone:

 

[jamieintercity]

Found this on Fife today

Work at Cupar rail bridge unveiled by Network Rail

Plans have been unveiled for work to a rail bridge in Cupar to make sure it is ready for the electrification of the rail line.

www.fifetoday.co.uk

I'm assuming the bridge is Kirkforthar Feus (the north one, would the south one need replaced as well?) on Google maps. Would both the A914, pittillock burn bridges both need to be replaced to allow OHL to pass under?

 

[zwk500]

Just to remind everyone:

There be a hole in that plan....

 

[TrainViation]

Found this on Fife today

Work at Cupar rail bridge unveiled by Network Rail

Plans have been unveiled for work to a rail bridge in Cupar to make sure it is ready for the electrification of the rail line.

www.fifetoday.co.uk

I'm assuming the bridge is Kirkforthar Feus (the north one, would the south one need replaced as well?) on Google maps. Would both the A914, pittillock burn bridges both need to be replaced to allow OHL to pass under?

I'd assume so, the majority of these bridges will be ancient... and presumably built the same way with the same architecture.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jun 2025 ==

There be a hole in that plan....

There indeed be a hole... a strategic hole, but a hole nonetheless... I think they're planning to electrify the whole route in the future, but for now it's much cheaper and easier to electrify both ends and a terminus branch (Leven) and using BEMUs rather than decades of landscaping and hassle dealing with the Forth Rail Bridge, and the section between the bridge and Inverkeithing, not to mention Aberdour to Kinghorn... Then at least the line is decently straightforward from Kirkcaldy and north.

 

[John R]

There be a hole in that plan....

The strategy has been partial electrification and BEMUs for some years, (see also the Borders Railway) so the plan as shown is consistent with that strategy.

 

[zwk500]

The strategy has been partial electrification and BEMUs for some years, (see also the Borders Railway) so the plan as shown is consistent with that strategy.

I know, it's just frustrating because in this instance it's using Battery to cheap out in the very section where OLE would give significant benefits.

 

[TrainViation]

I know, it's just frustrating because in this instance it's using Battery to cheap out in the very section where OLE would give significant benefits.

Mind you it’s only a temporary solution to bring electric and nearly carbon free trains onto the line. Full electrification is planned for 2040. Better some done now than nothing.

 

[zwk500]

Mind you it’s only a temporary solution to bring electric and nearly carbon free trains onto the line. Full electrification is planned for 2040. Better some done now than nothing.

Agreed, and from a pragmatic view I can see the sense.

 

[EMU303]

Regarding BEMs… any sign of the updated decarbonisation plan which is long overdue? Scotrail will soon be desperate for new EMUs to replace ageing 318s and 320s as well as BEMs to start replacing 156/158s. HST replacement seems to be the priority though.

 

[positron]

Regarding BEMs… any sign of the updated decarbonisation plan which is long overdue? Scotrail will soon be desperate for new EMUs to replace ageing 318s and 320s as well as BEMs to start replacing 156/158s. HST replacement seems to be the priority though.

They announced a procurement but I've not heard anything else since. Personally hoping for stadler Flirts but we shall see.

 

[TrainViation]

They announced a procurement but I've not heard anything else since. Personally hoping for stadler Flirts but we shall see.

The most likely outcome just now is that either newly built or already existing Hitachi Class 385 units could be retrofitted with battery cells. This was actually discussed when they were being manufactured as an idea for future stock once battery technology improved. Second most likely will be Stadtler Flirt trains, as they are tri mode, however that is still not fully carbon free.

I’d also imagine that for the ScotRail intercity fleet, they’d use some version of the 80x fleet with more batteries, where the diesel fuel cells are replaced which also already discussed. This would be into the early to mid 2030s however most likely depending on how the Class 222 Meridians fair on our routes.

 

[John R]

I would have thought the owners of the Class 350s which are going spare would have been incentivised to put in a competitive offer.

 

[positron]

I seemed to recall level boarding was part of the procurement which would suggest flirts or a new platform of train from another manufacturer. Also FLIRTS don't have to be tri-mode? They can come in whatever configuration is desired.

 

[TrainViation]

I seemed to recall level boarding was part of the procurement which would suggest flirts or a new platform of train from another manufacturer. Also FLIRTS don't have to be tri-mode? They can come in whatever configuration is desired.

I'd assume it would be in tri-mode configuration, as the current Class 756 has a battery range of 40 miles (64km), which isn't nearly enough range to cover some of Scotland's routes. Yes, it would work on the Fife line through to Perth and Dundee, but not any further (same goes from Dunblane to Perth). Any trains north of there would still have to rely on some diesel or hydrogen alternative either on top of or as a temporary/permanent solution whilst the current infrastructure is being upgraded.

Yes, the procurement is open to any and all train manufacturers, although it seems logical that ScotRail would invest in Hitachi further, as it would require less driver training and there is already some train familiarity. If you've already got a huge pool of a certain train, might as well add to them rather than complicating it and throwing a medium spanner in the works.

 

[John R]

Yes, the procurement is open to any and all train manufacturers, although it seems logical that ScotRail would invest in Hitachi further, as it would require less driver training and there is already some train familiarity. If you've already got a huge pool of a certain train, might as well add to them rather than complicating it and throwing a medium spanner in the works.

If you took that to its logical conclusion train companies would never change supplier.

The Class 385s were ordered 10 years ago, so it’s not unreasonable to assume that any new stock ordered today, particularly if not pure EMU and having level boarding, would have significant differences to existing Hitachi stock running in Scotland.

 

[TrainViation]

If you took that to its logical conclusion train companies would never change supplier.

The Class 385s were ordered 10 years ago, so it’s not unreasonable to assume that any new stock ordered today, particularly if not pure EMU and having level boarding, would have significant differences to existing Hitachi stock running in Scotland.

Makes sense to be fair now I think about it. Maybe speculating about the new traction is a job for a few months down the line.

 

[jamieintercity]

More road closures found on roadworksscotland.org

Roseberry terrace in Kirkcaldy expected to start between 11th October to 10th January 2026 for 30 days

Main street, Coaltown of blagonie expected to start between 1st November to 31st January 2026 for 30 days

C32 (next to Newton farm cottages) expected to start between 29th November to 27th February 2026 for 36 days

U024 (next to A92) expected to start 31st January to 29th April 2026 for 30 days

 

[A330Alex]

It’s really good to see progress on the horizon for the project outwith Haymarket - Dalmeny. I wonder whether an announcement around progress/funding for the project is imminent.