Fife Rail Electrification/Decarbonisation

[AMD]

Seeing as this forum thread has wandered north of Dalmeny....

Masts have gone up just west of Cameron Bridge, about 20 of them so far, you can see the west end of Diageo's complex at the back right of one of the photos.

 

[najaB]

Hmm... I knew that they had put the bases in while rebuilding the line but I'm slightly surprised they're putting the masts up already.

 

[TrainViation]

Wow! This is amazing to see! Can't wait to get down there and have a look for myself...

Also no idea if it's possible, but what is the source from those images? Is it an independant source?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Hmm... I knew that they had put the bases in while rebuilding the line but I'm slightly surprised they're putting the masts up already.

Wow! This is amazing to see! Can't wait to get down there and have a look for myself...

Indeed- it seems they have gone from nothing to masts with SPS etc. Really fantastic to see.

I did have to google Cameron Bridge though!

 

[Trainbike46]

Seeing as this forum thread has wandered north of Dalmeny....

Masts have gone up just west of Cameron Bridge, about 20 of them so far, you can see the west end of Diageo's complex at the back right of one of the photos.View attachment 186792View attachment 186793

Nice to see progress up in Fife as well now! I guess teams are moving on now work on East Kilbride is finished.

 

[InOban]

Indeed- it seems they have gone from nothing to masts with SPS etc. Really fantastic to see.

I did have to google Cameron Bridge though!

One of the efficiency that they have introduced is to attach the SPS in the yard before erecting the mast.

 

[Falcon1200]

I guess teams are moving on

To the wrong place, given that this electrification will be absolutely useless for several years to come.

 

[TrainViation]

To the wrong place, given that this electrification will be absolutely useless for several years to come.

The electrification of this line is supposed to be complete within 3-5 years (2028-2030), but I doubt they'll take that long to electrify 9km of double track railway. They'll most likely restart other projects during that period as well.

 

[John R]

To the wrong place, given that this electrification will be absolutely useless for several years to come.

If you look at the map in post 4, you’ll see that there is quite a bit to be done before the Fife lines will be ready to accept BEMUs. On the assumption that the Leven branch is the start of work on the four lines radiating from Thornton, it’s not unreasonable to tie the completion of the infrastructure work with the approximate time suitable rolling stock becomes available.

 

[Falcon1200]

the approximate time suitable rolling stock becomes available.

Does anyone, including Scotrail and Network Rail, even know when that will be?!!

 

[John R]

Does anyone, including Scotrail and Network Rail, even know when that will be?!!

That question is best asked on the relevant thread to avoid going off topic, but if you read through it you will see that a further step in the process is due next month. The good news is that the process is underway, and that whilst I am sure people would wish it was faster, investment in such a large fleet is not a simple process, and takes time.

ScotRail Suburban Fleet (EMU and BEMU) Market Engagement

ScotRail Trains Limited (SRT) Market Engagement Notice SRT is launching a market engagement exercise in relation to its proposed procurement for the replacement of some of its aging Diesel and Electric Multiple Units with a new fleet of Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) and Battery Electric...

www.railforums.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2025 ==

It’s also nice to see lightweight masts being used too on local lines (he says, thinking of the Valleys electrification project in particular.)

 

[TrainViation]

It’s also nice to see lightweight masts being used too on local lines (he says, thinking of the Valleys electrification project in particular.)

Just wondering, what's the difference between these (being lightweight) and other masts (that aren't)? What makes them such a type?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

If you look at the map in post 4, you’ll see that there is quite a bit to be done before the Fife lines will be ready to accept BEMUs. On the assumption that the Leven branch is the start of work on the four lines radiating from Thornton, it’s not unreasonable to tie the completion of the infrastructure work with the approximate time suitable rolling stock becomes available.

And the grid feeder surely?

 

[John R]

And the grid feeder surely?

This thread suggests it will be in place long before then, so I discounted it as a constraint.

Possible electrification schemes in the pipeline?

Are there any more electrification projects in the pipeline after the MML and TPU are done?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[59CosG95]

Seeing as this forum thread has wandered north of Dalmeny....

Masts have gone up just west of Cameron Bridge, about 20 of them so far, you can see the west end of Diageo's complex at the back right of one of the photos.View attachment 186792View attachment 186793

Looking at the plates, "Echo Quebec" seems to be the Route Code for the Levenmouth branch. Perhaps "Q" for "Quay"?

 

[AMD]

but what is the source from those images? Is it an independant source?

All mine, i've also taken a video running through the area yesterday which i've yet to upload anywhere.
As an update, I counted 31 masts up yesterday.

 

[waverley47]

To the wrong place, given that this electrification will be absolutely useless for several years to come.

Given that you've railed against electrification of East Kilbride for the lack of EMUs, and now Fife, where do you think is the right place? Bear in mind of course that this is ScotGov wiring with Scottish money, and therefore wiring the Oxford or Bristol lines would appear to be a questionable use of funds.

There is an Invitation to Tender out right now, with an award expected to commence in the next 18 months, which will provide a lot of lovely shiny new EMUs and BEMUs to work these lines.

If you think they shouldn't be wiring until the trains arrive, then they'd have trains lying around doing nothing. If you think that they should have wired somewhere else, then they'd still have no units to work the wired lines.

Yes, they could have ordered them earlier, but they didn't, and here we are. Surely it's better to continue wiring at pace, in advance of the units arriving, to keep the teams together and keep costs low?

 

[Trainbike46]

Given that you've railed against electrification of East Kilbride for the lack of EMUs, and now Fife, where do you think is the right place? Bear in mind of course that this is ScotGov wiring with Scottish money, and therefore wiring the Oxford or Bristol lines would appear to be a questionable use of funds.

There is an Invitation to Tender out right now, with an award expected to commence in the next 18 months, which will provide a lot of lovely shiny new EMUs and BEMUs to work these lines.

If you think they shouldn't be wiring until the trains arrive, then they'd have trains lying around doing nothing. If you think that they should have wired somewhere else, then they'd still have no units to work the wired lines.

Yes, they could have ordered them earlier, but they didn't, and here we are. Surely it's better to continue wiring at pace, in advance of the units arriving, to keep the teams together and keep costs low?

Exactly this - Keeping electrification costs low, and having the lines ready when the new trains arrive is ideal.

 

[TrainViation]

All mine, i've also taken a video running through the area yesterday which i've yet to upload anywhere.
As an update, I counted 31 masts up yesterday.

Ah, thanks for getting those images and posting them here, absolute legend!
And 31 masts isn't that bad for a month's work, especially since they're still to finish putting some piles in the ground on that line.
I'd love to see that video too if, when and where you publish it. A bit of proof of work is always a nice thing to see, especially nowadays.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Exactly this - Keeping electrification costs low, and having the lines ready when the new trains arrive is ideal.

+1 from me too.

 

[och aye]

All mine, i've also taken a video running through the area yesterday which i've yet to upload anywhere.
As an update, I counted 31 masts up yesterday.

Any chance you could upload it to YouTube or Vimeo?

 

[zwk500]

Exactly this - Keeping electrification costs low, and having the lines ready when the new trains arrive is ideal.

Importantly, keeping the team together! The loss of skill and experience involved in constantly demobilising and re-mobilising is such a serious issue.

 

[John R]

Given that you've railed against electrification of East Kilbride for the lack of EMUs, and now Fife, where do you think is the right place? Bear in mind of course that this is ScotGov wiring with Scottish money, and therefore wiring the Oxford or Bristol lines would appear to be a questionable use of funds.

I’d actually quite like the Scottish Govt to bid for English (or Welsh) wiring. It seems to be able to do it at a much lower price and with more pragmatism as to what is done.

Thames Valley branches anyone?

 

[Trainbike46]

I’d actually quite like the Scottish Govt to bid for English (or Welsh) wiring. It seems to be able to do it at a much lower price and with more pragmatism as to what is done.

Thames Valley branches anyone?

The contractor doing most of the work in Scotland - SPL - does also do work in England, and they were the contractor for the MMLe, until that got cancelled.

 

[John R]

The contractor doing most of the work in Scotland - SPL - does also do work in England, and they were the contractor for the MMLe, until that got cancelled.

It was somewhat tongue in cheek, but there is clearly something that Scotland is doing to keep costs per single track km lower (and I’m not convinced it’s just that atm it is short branch lines).

 

[zwk500]

It was somewhat tongue in cheek, but there is clearly something that Scotland is doing to keep costs per single track km lower (and I’m not convinced it’s just that atm it is short branch lines).

Not cancelling projects halfway through seems to be a pretty good place to start...

 

[AMD]

A short video running through the area which has masts up, heading towards Cameron Bridge from the Thornton direction.

 

[John R]

Not cancelling projects halfway through seems to be a pretty good place to start...

Agree. Nor changing the spec several times (Euston).

 

[Falcon1200]

Given that you've railed against electrification of East Kilbride for the lack of EMUs

Please demonstrate where I have 'railed against electrification of East Kilbride' - I most certainly have not, and your statement is utter nonsense. What I have expressed is surprise, and disappointment, no doubt shared by those who use the route, that after months of disruption, including a lengthy complete line closure... The line is still worked by DMUs! And even when electric trains do, finally, start running to East Kilbride.... Some diagrams will still be DMUs! That is a failure by Scotrail to obtain the necessary stock, and I do not accept any excuses about how hard it might be - Scotrail did a remarkable job getting Class 365s for the E&G service when the 385s were delayed but that enterprising spirit seems to have disappeared.

where do you think is the right place?

Barrhead/Kilmarnock and Kilmarnock/Barassie.

For the record, and to be absolutely clear, I am totally in favour of electrification, on every route where it can be justified, and that does include Fife and beyond. But the wiring of Haymarket/Dalmeny will, for several years, be used by only a handful of trains, and the Leven branch will not be used by any.

 

[John R]

Scotrail did a remarkable job getting Class 365s for the E&G service when the 385s were delayed but that enterprising spirit seems to have disappeared.

Of course, what we don't (I think) know is how much the Happy Train exercise cost, and who paid for it. I suspect Hitachi was on the hook for some fairly sizeable compensation, which made the short term procurement worthwhile for the flasghip electrification scheme between Scotland's two principal cities. I somewhat doubt a similar exercise to enable a full EMU service to East Kilbride would pass the value for money test.

If you think of the Fife electrification as one scheme, which is split into various parts simply by the fact that it is a discontinuous electrification scheme, then it's not at all illogical that it proceeds piece by piece, and once it's all finished then the rolling stock will be ready. And Leven is nice and easy as the bases are in place, so keeps the team working whilst other preparatory work takes place on the other "arms".