Proposal to change the name of Glenrothes with Thornton

[Lewis10104]

ScotRail have announced they are seeking views on a proposal to change the name of Glenrothes with Thornton railway station to Thornton railway station.

Proposed station name change

Consultation on the proposed renaming of Glenrothes with Thornton railway station (August 2026).ScotRail is seeking views on a proposal to change the name of Glenrothes with Thornton railway station to Thornton railway station.The purpose of this consultation is to gather the views of...

www.scotrail.co.uk

 

[py_megapixel]

Is there any indication anywhere of why this is being proposed?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is there any indication anywhere of why this is being proposed?

Apparently because it's confusing people who end up having to get Ubers or walk when they find it isn't in or indeed that near Glenrothes. Markinch is a better station for going there.

It is an unconventional name - "Thornton for Glenrothes" would be a more conventional way of saying that it's in one but serves the other. But it doesn't even really do that.

It would probably be a bit akin to renaming Upholland to "Skelmersdale with Upholland", and that would similarly confuse people - and indeed just sounds a bit silly!

 

[Western Gaffer]

Seems to me that there's an equivalent naming template to borrow from just a little further along the line...

Leuchars (for St. Andrews) Station

www.scotrail.co.uk

 

[Bletchleyite]

Seems to me that there's an equivalent naming template to borrow from just a little further along the line...

Leuchars (for St. Andrews) Station

www.scotrail.co.uk

"X for Y" is used all over the place, not just there, sometimes formally in the station name and sometimes just on the signage. It's a pretty standard form for a station in a smaller place just outside the bigger place that lacks one (except where "Y Parkway" is used, but most of those are in the middle of nowhere or at least were when built).

The secondary issue in this case is that it *isn't* the best station for Glenrothes - Markinch is. Fundamentally if going to Glenrothes you *don't* want to go to GwT - and that's the issue.

 

[Lewis10104]

The secondary issue in this case is that it *isn't* the best station for Glenrothes - Markinch is. Fundamentally if going to Glenrothes you *don't* want to go to GwT - and that's the issue.

Even Markinch isn’t ideal but that’s by the by!

 

[norbitonflyer]

Why was it named so in the first place? It's not even a histortic leftover - the station only opened in 1992 and even the name Glenrothes did not exist until 1946 when the New Town was designated, atb which time Markinch station was already 100 years old.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Even Markinch isn’t ideal but that’s by the by!

It's not *ideal* a place that big having no station of its own, but Markinch is closer, bigger and I assume better connected by bus.

I've created a speculative thread about "X for Y" stations by the way, including whether Markinch should be renamed "Markinch for Glenrothes" as part of this (not presently officially proposed):

"X for Y" - stations that should perhaps have another name added to them but don't have at present

I've created this thread off the back of this one: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/proposal-to-change-the-name-of-glenrothes-with-thornton.306993/#post-7938727 Which is about renaming Glenrothes-with-Thornton to just Thornton, as it's confusing people, not only because it isn't in...

www.railforums.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2026 ==

Why was it named so in the first place? It's not even a histortic leftover - the station only opened in 1992 and even the name Glenrothes did not exist until 1946 when the New Town was designated, atb which time Markinch station was already 100 years old.

Goodness only knows - it makes very little sense.

Looking at buses Kirkcaldy may even be better for Glenrothes (though those do pass GwT station)...

 

[waverley47]

Why was it named so in the first place? It's not even a histortic leftover - the station only opened in 1992 and even the name Glenrothes did not exist until 1946 when the New Town was designated, atb which time Markinch station was already 100 years old.

I would direct your attention to this excellent write up from Dr Hoo.

 

[norbitonflyer]

As there is a very limited direct service between Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath etc and Markinch (two northbound in the early morning, two southbound in the late evening), GwT is the best (least worst) station for getting to Glenrothes Town centre from the wesetrn side of the Fife Circle

 

[Kingston Dan]

It's not *ideal* a place that big having no station of its own, but Markinch is closer, bigger and I assume better connected by bus.

I've created a speculative thread about "X for Y" stations by the way, including whether Markinch should be renamed "Markinch for Glenrothes" as part of this (not presently officially proposed):

"X for Y" - stations that should perhaps have another name added to them but don't have at present

I've created this thread off the back of this one: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/proposal-to-change-the-name-of-glenrothes-with-thornton.306993/#post-7938727 Which is about renaming Glenrothes-with-Thornton to just Thornton, as it's confusing people, not only because it isn't in...

www.railforums.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2026 ==



Goodness only knows - it makes very little sense.

Looking at buses Kirkcaldy may even be better for Glenrothes (though those do pass GwT station)...

Wasn't it previously called that?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Wasn't it previously called that? [Markinch for Glenrothes]

Indeed it was - as I see from my 1992 edition of Baker's Rail Atlas (on which Glenrothes with Thornton is shown as "proposed")

 

[Stephen1001]

While inconsistent signage on the railways is nothing unusual, the name Thornton already appears on at least one sign at the station as it is:



Image is a screenshot from this Google Maps link of a Fife Council sign that says "Thornton Rail Station Car Park".

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I can’t see any reason for the name not being changed myself. The locals call it Thornton Station anyway, the station is too small to function as a Park & Ride and its onward transport options aren’t great to be honest, particularly on Sundays. As others have already highlighted, the buses along this stretch run from Kirkcaldy, right past the station to Glenrothes Town Centre.

Glenrothes of course is a new town and as such is very car centric so unless they can all of a sudden build a massive multi story car park I don’t see the need for the Glenrothes name in the station whatsoever. I imagine the majority of commuters that drive part of the way into Edinburgh probably park at Halbeath or Ferrytoll anyway. Thus any Thornton for Glenrothes idea is equally as flawed. This little station isn’t designed for the traffic that its name would suggest it could handle.

I use the station when travelling to and from Glenrothes occasionally, but in my head the station has always been and always will be Thornton Station. I didn’t choose to travel to it as it had Glenrothes in the name. It was simply the closest option to what I needed to do on that particular occasion, even over an express coach.

Given the timescale of the consultation, it could suggest it may even be implemented for December timetable change?

 

[cats_five]

<snip>

I imagine the majority of commuters that drive part of the way into Edinburgh probably park at Halbeath or Ferrytoll anyway. Thus any Thornton for Glenrothes idea is equally as flawed. This little station isn’t designed for the traffic that its name would suggest it could handle.

<snip>

I think quite a few get the train at Kirkcaldy. The station car park was greatly enlarged with the addition on the west side of the line, which more than doubled the number of spaces. Prior to that it could be impossible to get parked there, and for all I know it is once more. There has also been a big car park added at Markinch. Car parking has also been expanded (from a very small number) at Ladybank.

The obvious place most of those people are going is Edinburgh.

 

[50018_Reso]

Unless your going to/from Leven apart from the odd service that do the old Fife Circle it's a pretty pointless station that presuming has lost its importance since the Fife Circle ceased due to Leven?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Unless your going to/from Leven apart from the odd service that do the old Fife Circle it's a pretty pointless station that presuming has lost its importance since the Fife Circle ceased due to Leven?

Travellers to Glenrothes (the town) from Dunfermline or Cowdenbeath do not have the option of using Markinch. They either have to use Thornton station, go via Inverkeithing, or find some means that does not involve rail.

 

[Stephen1001]

Unless your going to/from Leven apart from the odd service that do the old Fife Circle it's a pretty pointless station that presuming has lost its importance since the Fife Circle ceased due to Leven?

Although poorly sited for Glenrothes town centre, it's by far the nearest station to a lot of residential areas to the south of the town and thus pretty useful for outward travel. Even Thornton village has a population of around 2000. All of this is reflected in its usage, which is below average for the region but does consistently exceed that of neighbouring Cardenden (50,756 vs 43,222 in the 2024/25 set of figures).

 

[Farigiraf]

or find some means that does not involve rail.

I won't undermine the potential usefulness of Thornton station for those living nearby, but I can't imagine many Glenrothes - Dunfermline/Cowdenbeath travellers are taking the train via Thornton. If I had to guess, it's at least 70% driving at least as far as Halbeath, with nearly all of the rest taking one of the direct express buses which are cheaper and go from town/city centre to centre, not requiring a transfer to/from the rail station.

Since Glenrothes has no centrally located station, rail is really only the best option for long-distance travel or trips to Edinburgh, getting to most other places is easier and cheaper by bus. Not very optimal as 30+ mins on a standard bus is far from train levels of comfort, but that's what happens when there's only 2 rail lines in the whole county.

 

[cats_five]

I won't undermine the potential usefulness of Thornton station for those living nearby, but I can't imagine many Glenrothes - Dunfermline/Cowdenbeath travellers are taking the train via Thornton. If I had to guess, it's at least 70% driving at least as far as Halbeath, with nearly all of the rest taking one of the direct express buses which are cheaper and go from town/city centre to centre, not requiring a transfer to/from the rail station.

Since Glenrothes has no centrally located station, rail is really only the best option for long-distance travel or trips to Edinburgh, getting to most other places is easier and cheaper by bus. Not very optimal as 30+ mins on a standard bus is far from train levels of comfort, but that's what happens when there's only 2 rail lines in the whole county.

TBH the buses from Fife - all of it - to Edinburgh are excellent. From Ferrytoll & Halbeath they are so frequent I never look at the timetable. There are several from Kinross, and Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Cupar & St Andrews all have at least one an hour. Most of them go to the bus station. The Ember stop is pretty close to it. And, of course, for those of us with our bus pass they are free.

 

[Farigiraf]

TBH the buses from Fife - all of it - to Edinburgh are excellent. From Ferrytoll & Halbeath they are so frequent I never look at the timetable. There are several from Kinross, and Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Cupar & St Andrews all have at least one an hour. Most of them go to the bus station. The Ember stop is pretty close to it. And, of course, for those of us with our bus pass they are free.

There are different journey types and passenger preferences, and they're all covered decently well. One isn't strictly better than the rest, as the cost, comfort, convenience and reliability varies quite a bit.
At the moment the train certainly isn't winning regarding cost or frequency, but if getting to/from a station is easy enough for you then having a 1-seat scenic and pothole-free ride into central Edinburgh is an attractive option.

It also has the potential to be much more reliable than any road option - delays aren't uncommon on the ScotRail Fife routes, but improving reliability on the railway is possible while reducing traffic & accidents on the M90 etc. is much harder to achieve long-term. Plus you have the capacity aspect - despite short trains and low-ish frequencies, a ScotRail route still has 2-3x more seats than a coach service and can carry more passengers an hour than the two P&R systems combined.

This is far off from my original point though, which was that for shorter trips within Fife, unless your origin/destination is close to a railway station, the train remains a niche option. ScotRail's Fife network is overall just 3 commuter lines to/from Edinburgh, and while it can fulfil that role well enough (will hopefully improve post-electrification), it struggles to do much more than that. In Thornton's case, if you live near the station then using the train is probably more convenient than backtracking to Glenrothes bus station, but if Markinch & the bus station is easier to get to then Thornton really isn't useful for much.