Expansions for Scotland's rail network proposed

[Photohunter71]

What's to happen to the Portobello to Leith docks line? Could that be utillised as a passenger line or is this line under threat of being removed?

 

[och aye]

What's to happen to the Portobello to Leith docks line? Could that be utillised as a passenger line or is this line under threat of being removed?

I can't ever see that line being used for passengers. The line will remain as the dock is there.

 

[och aye]

Saw this draft image of the QMU masterplan. To me it looks like they will need to build a second platform and/or build a footbridge to the other side of the line at Newcraighall if the development comes to fruition over the next 10 years.

 

[och aye]

Does anyone have any info on what happened with the feasibility study regarding extending the line from Larkhall to Stonehouse (Strathaven?), was it ever published?

https://web.archive.org/web/20071227095722/http://www.spt.co.uk/news/story455.html

 

[najaB]

What's to happen to the Portobello to Leith docks line? Could that be utillised as a passenger line...

The main problem with using it as a passenger line is that the junction faces the wrong way.

 

[route101]

The main problem with using it as a passenger line is that the junction faces the wrong way.

Is the line used much now?

 

[NotATrainspott]

What's to happen to the Portobello to Leith docks line? Could that be utillised as a passenger line or is this line under threat of being removed?

There's not a lot of demand for trains between Leith and Portobello. Trains to Leith are never going to happen when the tram is on the horizon.

Maybe, just maybe, in the dim and distant future it could be used for tram-trains. If the trams head out to Musselburgh and there's strong development at Leith and the waterfront, it might just be worthwhile to provide a tram link if the costs of doing so would be pretty low. There's certainly no point putting tram lines down Seafield Road when the docks line runs parallel.

Saw this draft image of the QMU masterplan. To me it looks like they will need to build a second platform and/or build a footbridge to the other side of the line at Newcraighall if the development comes to fruition over the next 10 years.

A second platform at Newcraighall is probable in the next few years as part of the Portobello Junction/South Suburban resignalling works. The tracks around this part mainly act as independent single lines but NR want enhanced capacity for freight, passenger and diversionary routes. The EGIP depot at Millerhill has been built with two separate connections onto the same single line for that resignalling/doubling work.

 

[Railsigns]

A second platform at Newcraighall is probable in the next few years as part of the Portobello Junction/South Suburban resignalling works.

Every option I've seen shows two platforms at Brunstane (currently one) but still just one at Newcraighall.

 

[najaB]

Is the line used much now?

Not that I know of. I'd guess it sees a train a dozen times a year.

 

[snowball]

Not that I know of. I'd guess it sees a train a dozen times a year.

At full moon.

 

[och aye]

Councillor calls for rail link action group

http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/transport/councillor-calls-for-rail-link-action-group-1-4528495

A local councillor has called on politicians, businesses and trade unions to work together to secure a Levenmouth rail link.

Cllr Colin Davidson wants to set up an action group bringing together various parties in a bid to give more momentum to the Levenmouth Rail Link campaign. The call comes just weeks after it was revealed that the link was not included in the Edinburgh City Region Deal.

Cllr Davidson, who was also this week elected as deputy chair of transport group Sestran, described the news as a huge disappointment and said a group needed to be formed to work out how to take the project forward.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Every option I've seen shows two platforms at Brunstane (currently one) but still just one at Newcraighall.

Yep that is all i have seen too.

 

[och aye]

Yep that is all i have seen too.

I wonder, did the plan come out before or after plans for QMU were unveiled?

 

[clc]

Update on new Robroyston station:

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/submissiondocuments.asp?submissionid=84571

 

[och aye]

Update on new Robroyston station:

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/submissiondocuments.asp?submissionid=84571

I don't know the area very well. Is this primarily going to be a park & ride station?

 

[Altnabreac]

I don't know the area very well. Is this primarily going to be a park & ride station?

It's designed to support local housing growth (and partially paid for by developer contributions from that housing growth).

However it is also very close to Junction 4 of the M80 and has a decent sized hinterland without another rail station so there will a fair amount of park and ride usage as well.

 

[clc]

A new bridge over the Clyde is planned, funded by City Deal money. This will provide much of Renfrew with easier access to the rail network as Yoker train station will be closer than Paisley Gilmour St.

Article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-40557021

A new station on the existing freight line at Braehead could cover the rest of the town.

 

[Mordac]

A new bridge over the Clyde is planned, funded by City Deal money. This will provide much of Renfrew with easier access to the rail network as Yoker train station will be closer than Paisley Gilmour St.

Article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-40557021

A new station on the existing freight line at Braehead could cover the rest of the town.

No way, man. If you're nae fo Yoker, you've got nae business bein' in Yoker!

 

[clc]

Debate on Levenmouth in which the Transport Minister confirmed that Transport Scotland will take on responsibility for the GRIP 4 study:-

http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11109&mode=pdf

 

[Altnabreac]

Debate on Levenmouth in which the Transport Minister confirmed that Transport Scotland will take on responsibility for the GRIP 4 study:-

http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11109&mode=pdf

I think that's genuinely the best news for the Levenmouth Rail Link I've read in a long while.

Complete 100% support from speakers representing all 5 major political parties, agreement from the Transport Minister to fund the Grip 4 study and I think most importantly Transport Scotland taking responsibility for the study.

This now moves it away from being a local government lobbying Scottish Government issue and into a Scottish Government scheme in co-operation with local government.

I'm much more optimistic that this scheme will now move forward in the next 5 years. Really excellent news.

 

[clc]

I think that's genuinely the best news for the Levenmouth Rail Link I've read in a long while.

Complete 100% support from speakers representing all 5 major political parties, agreement from the Transport Minister to fund the Grip 4 study and I think most importantly Transport Scotland taking responsibility for the study.

This now moves it away from being a local government lobbying Scottish Government issue and into a Scottish Government scheme in co-operation with local government.

I'm much more optimistic that this scheme will now move forward in the next 5 years. Really excellent news.

I wasn't clear what the Minister meant when he referred to UK Govt funding - any thoughts?

One or two members asked about the city deal. As they will know, it would be for local authorities to come forward with their priorities for city deal projects. However, there is an opportunity, as Mark Ruskell touched on, with the pipeline approach for control period 6: the 2019 to 2024 control period. The opportunity is subject to funding from the United Kingdom Government, but we have not got that confirmed yet and it is going to and fro between us and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury

 

[Grinner]

I wasn't clear what the Minister meant when he referred to UK Govt funding - any thoughts?

I think it's a reference to potential City Deal funding?

 

[mcmad]

Think its actually in relation to the ongoing funding of Network Rail in Scotland for CP6 and how much will be in the major projects kitty.

 

[Altnabreac]

Think its actually in relation to the ongoing funding of Network Rail in Scotland for CP6 and how much will be in the major projects kitty.

That was my understanding of this comment too. Until it's clear how much UK Gov will spend in CP6 the Scottish Government doesn't know how much it has to spend in CP6.

 

[Clansman]

Glad to see this has cropped up again, although it's not like anything will become of it, seeing as it's 'calls' and not 'plans' unfortunatley.

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/new...-call-to-resurrect-perth-edinburgh-rail-line/

Fresh call to resurrect Perth-Edinburgh rail line

Transport chiefs are facing fresh calls to spend hundreds of millions of pounds re-opening a direct rail link between Perth and Edinburgh.

Councillors will be asked next week to push for a resurrection of the old service, which was closed in 1970 to make way for the M90 motorway.

A new link, which could cut journey times by about 35 minutes, would involve building a new station and park and ride service in Kinross.

A survey from 2009 estimated that the line would cost somewhere between £500 million and £1 billion.

A motion will be raised by councillors Calum Purves (Conservative) and Mike Barnacle (independent) at the next full council meeting on Wednesday, calling for officials to write to the Scottish Government asking for a review.

They have pointed out that rail journeys between Perth and Edinburgh are now longer than they were more than a century ago.

Mr Purves said: “There has always been a great deal of support for this in the Kinross-shire area.

“There are a lot of people living here who commute between Perth and Edinburgh, so it would certainly get used. And it would build on Perth’s position as an inter-city transport hub, as well as creating real economic benefits for the area.”

The councillors’ motion calls for “serious consideration” to be given to upgrading rail infrastructure, compared to improvements to the local road network.

Mr Barnacle added: “To me, this is a no brainer. If you can do this in the borders, then they can do it here.

“While I fully support the concept, we would have to be very careful when planning out a route. There has been a lot of development at the old line since it was closed down.”

A recent council policy protects old rail-lines in case they are ever revived.

MSP Liz Smith, who has campaigned for a Perth-Edinburgh link, added: “There is clear public support for this, and I hope that councillors from other parties can join with us in pressuring the Scottish Government to have a serious look at re-opening the link.

“Rail commuters to Perth have been stuck with Victorian era journey times for far too long, it’s time this was reversed and people in Perth and Kinross were brought into the 21st century.”

A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “Scotland’s railway network is much larger and busier than it was a century ago, with a greater number of stations, stops and services. Rail is more popular now than ever before with in excess of 96 million journeys made on the Scottish network in 2016 thanks to the Scottish Government’s continued investment.

“Our High Level Output Specification (HLOS) is absolutely clear about the importance of improved journey times and we expect Network Rail to work closely with ScotRail to maximise appropriate opportunities for faster journeys across the network.”

She added: “Through our current £5 billion investment programme, we are committed to on-going transport improvements.

“Indeed, planning for the second Strategic Transport Projects Review has commenced, and this will examine potential strategic transport infrastructure interventions, including new rail lines, required to support the delivery of the government’s economic strategy.”

A spokesman for Network Rail added: “We’re always open to discussing proposals to expand Scotland’s rail network where they meet a clear need and are supported by a clear business case. We currently have no plans for reopening this line.”

 

[Altnabreac]

Glad to see this has cropped up again, although it's not like anything will become of it, seeing as it's 'calls' and not 'plans' unfortunatley.

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/new...-call-to-resurrect-perth-edinburgh-rail-line/

It's a start that people are talking about it. I'd rather see people talking about it and lobbying for it as a "new line" than a "re-opened line".

There is too much of the old route lost and any business case for the new line will have to be based in providing a much faster journey time than shadowing the old Glenfarg line would likely bring. I think it's unlikely a Halbeath - Bridge of Earn new line would reuse any of the old trackbed.

 

[Clansman]

It's a start that people are talking about it. I'd rather see people talking about it and lobbying for it as a "new line" than a "re-opened line".

There is too much of the old route lost and any business case for the new line will have to be based in providing a much faster journey time than shadowing the old Glenfarg line would likely bring. I think it's unlikely a Halbeath - Bridge of Earn new line would reuse any of the old trackbed.

Given that it was debated at Holyrood in 2013, it seems highly unlikely the proposals would even make it back there unless somebody somewhere can pull a game changer out of the blue that will make this economically viable, rather than something that's nice to have.

The success of the Borders Railway could provide an enhanced case for any route proposal, and this is no exception.

 

[Altnabreac]

Given that it was debated at Holyrood in 2013, it seems highly unlikely the proposals would even make it back there unless somebody somewhere can pull a game changer out of the blue that will make this economically viable, rather than something that's nice to have.

The success of the Borders Railway could provide an enhanced case for any route proposal, and this is no exception.

My view is it can only work by serving Dundee and Aberdeen as well. This adds some costs but should greatly increase benefits too.

If viewed alongside Edinburgh - Glasgow HSR you then have a full InterCity network proposal.

 

[mcmad]

Is there really a need for a HSR network in Scotland though? Edinburgh and Glasgow are only 50 miles apart so you could achieve the same journey time by running selected services non stop using the loops already on the E&G line. Dundee and Aberdeen are far enough from Glasgow but is there really the demand to justify the costs?

The proposed Dunfermline bypass line along with a reopened Glenfarg route would no doubt improve the Edinburgh to Perth/Inverness journey time by 30 minutes or so but at several hundred million can a business case really be made for at best an hourly service?

 

[Clansman]

The proposed Dunfermline bypass line along with a reopened Glenfarg route would no doubt improve the Edinburgh to Perth/Inverness journey time by 30 minutes or so but at several hundred million can a business case really be made for at best an hourly service?

In my opinion, the case for the line is greater than the Borders. The only obstacles in the way of it is that existing alignment hasn't been protected since closing, and the terrain is a pain in the backside as far as planning goes. So both of these factors will have significantly increased the cost.

...at best an hourly service?

You're talking at least 2tph at the quietest of times, and no doubt many more freight services - more than the Borders Railway in both cases.

If this was built, no doubt you'd see more passengers using rail between Perth and Edinburgh, and you're also looking at Dunfermline (with a larger population than both Perth and Stirling) receiving an Intercity link at long last.

In comparison to the Borders; roughly the same distance, greater benefits, greater opportunities, a greater population being served. But three times the cost, which is why this proposal hasn't gotten any further than it already has.