Another Step Forward in Scotland's Plan to Decarbonise its Rail Network.
Work has now started at Thornton Junction on the reinstatement of the Branch Line to Levenmouth with freight carrying capacity. Now a further boost for the Kingdom of Fife has been announced in the form of electrification works along the route known as the Fife Ring.
Network Rail has started to install the masts to carry overhead wires for Phase 1, the electrification of of the line between Haymarket in the centre of Edinburgh to Dalmeny at the southern end of the Forth Bridge. The completion of this stretch is expected by December 2024.
A further three phases are planned:
- from Kinghorn to Thornton,
- from Thornton to Ladybank and
- from Thornton to Cardenden.
This will partially electrify the lines in Fife and enable 42 old, life-expired diesel trains and 55 electric trains (which could be used elsewhere) to be replaced with battery-electric multiple units. This strategy will provide early benefits of electric working, with full electrification brought in later.
Scottish Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth, is looking forward to the removal of all diesel powered trains from passenger services by 2035.