Fife Rail Electrification/Decarbonisation

[Ginaro]

Noticed the ongoing works on the bridge parapets at Roseberry Crescent in Kirkcaldy, the second bridge north of the station. The metal fence panels and top of the wall you can see on Street View have been removed with a third row of stone added, presumably with another row or two to come. Sign says Saturday night road closures until mid-December. https://maps.app.goo.gl/J5qkhqyRyBfWqDK46

 

[AMD]

It's been a number of weeks since I was down to Leven in good light, so i've done another video.... it's more just pockets of masts missing here and there, but the first mast is now up by the signal protecting the main line, albeit I noticed it's numbered 03.

 

[37025]

Noticed the ongoing works on the bridge parapets at Roseberry Crescent in Kirkcaldy, the second bridge north of the station. The metal fence panels and top of the wall you can see on Street View have been removed with a third row of stone added, presumably with another row or two to come. Sign says Saturday night road closures until mid-December. https://maps.app.goo.gl/J5qkhqyRyBfWqDK46

I went down today and got a few photos

 

[cynic]

Yes, their plan is to wire a bit into both forks in the junction, like this (apologies for the bad illustration):
View attachment 192801


Indeed they do, I was hoping they would continue slightly up the junction and they are.

 

[AMD]

Not entirely linked to electrification (however you get to see state of mast erection around it), but the deck of the new Mountfleurie bridge has gone in and the council have uploaded a short drone video of it -

 

[37025]

In the last few weeks a compound has been created on the site of an old factory in Kirkcaldy for SPL Powerlines, presumably linked to the forthcoming electrification.

 

[najaB]

In the last few weeks a compound has been created on the site of an old factory in Kirkcaldy for SPL Powerlines, presumably linked to the forthcoming electrification.

Indeed it appears that it is, based on this article:

Residents in Kirkcaldy have spoken of windows and doors vibrating as a result of major work which has begun ahead of electrifying the rail line between the town and Thornton.
Now a councillor has called for a meeting with Network Rail to try to minimise the problems going forward.

The issue was sparked by piling work being carried out on derelict land on Victoria Road. The preparatory operations sit opposite houses on Citron Glebe where residents were left up in arms at the impact.

Kirkcaldy rail line work causes ‘completely unacceptable’ impact on residents

Residents in Kirkcaldy have spoken of windows and doors vibrating as a result of major work which has begun ahead of electrifying the rail line between the town and Thornton.

www.fifetoday.co.uk

Though, I am curious what piling would be going on at that site?

 

[zwk500]

Indeed it appears that it is, based on this article:

Kirkcaldy rail line work causes ‘completely unacceptable’ impact on residents

Residents in Kirkcaldy have spoken of windows and doors vibrating as a result of major work which has begun ahead of electrifying the rail line between the town and Thornton.

www.fifetoday.co.uk

Though, I am curious what piling would be going on at that site?

What's the site being used for?

 

[37025]

Indeed it appears that it is, based on this article:

Kirkcaldy rail line work causes ‘completely unacceptable’ impact on residents

Residents in Kirkcaldy have spoken of windows and doors vibrating as a result of major work which has begun ahead of electrifying the rail line between the town and Thornton.

www.fifetoday.co.uk

Though, I am curious what piling would be going on at that site?

It might be referring to the drilling work that was undertaken before the actual work to clear the site started.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Dec 2025 ==

What's the site being used for ?

I would think the storage of the equipment needed for the OHLE installation, masts etc.
In the last photo there is access up to the railway, albeit at a lower height to the line.

 

[TrainViation]

There is now a bulldozer situated next to the overbridge at Ladywell Avenue in Coaltown of Balgonie, awaiting demolition over the new year closure. I'll try and get a photo soon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Dec 2025 ==

I've found this as well on X by ScotRail themselves. This shows the work will really be ramping up soon!
(I'm not Scott by the way, this is just a reply to another user asking an unrelated question.)

(A screenshot of a verified ScotRail post on X explaining that some evening train services in Fife are being adjusted. The message links the changes to ongoing railway improvement work in the area and provides official clarification in response to a passenger query.)

 

[TrainViation]

Paid a visit over to Leven yesterday to see the progress of OLE on the branch line, and I can confidently say it's coming on well! Around 80+% of the masts have been erected.

I took a few photos but this seems to be the only one that wants to upload at the moment.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Quite a few cantilevers installed too so as you say, coming on well.

 

[TrainViation]

Here is a few more images around Leven station. I’m planning to go back to Thornton Junction soon, but this is all I have in the meantime.

Since last time, more masts are up on the approach to Leven station from the currently closed footbridges, more masts up around Cameron Bridge/Diageo area, including the support beams for the “portal”-type masts over the station itself.

 

[Southsider]

Quite a few cantilevers installed too so as you say, coming on well.

The cantilevers are probably arriving on site pre-attached to the masts. Same happened on East Kilbride.

 

[59CosG95]

Here is a few more images around Leven station. I’m planning to go back to Thornton Junction soon, but this is all I have in the meantime.

Since last time, more masts are up on the approach to Leven station from the currently closed footbridges, more masts up around Cameron Bridge/Diageo area, including the support beams for the “portal”-type masts over the station itself.

Interesting to see that Leven's where Network Rail's old Class 313 (used in ERTMS testing on the Hertford Loop) has ended up!

 

[zwk500]

Interesting to see mostly single-track cantilevers. But good to see wires going up on commuter routes.

Is the plan still for a gap in the wires from Dalmeny to Kinghorn/Dunfermline? If so, when to Scotrail plan on having the BEMU/Bi-Mode stock available to use the wires?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The cantilevers are probably arriving on site pre-attached to the masts. Same happened on East Kilbride.

Well that is definitely a time saving and thus an efficient way of doing it. Good stuff.

 

[TrainViation]

The cantilevers are probably arriving on site pre-attached to the masts. Same happened on East Kilbride.

Yes, that seems to be the case with 95% of the masts, and I’m pretty sure it’s cheaper and more efficient doing it that way.

Interesting to see mostly single-track cantilevers. But good to see wires going up on commuter routes.

Is the plan still for a gap in the wires from Dalmeny to Kinghorn/Dunfermline? If so, when to Scotrail plan on having the BEMU/Bi-Mode stock available to use the wires?

Yes, the plan is still to electrify to just south of Dalmeny, and continue on again just north of Kinghorn and Lochgelly, then will terminate a few hundred metres north of Ladybank station on both of the Perth and Dundee branches.

The BEMU stock has been said to be in service around 2031 (unfortunately), and we are to find out what trains we are getting and who will be building them this summer, most likely June.

 

[3RDGEN]

The BEMU stock has been said to be in service around 2031 (unfortunately), and we are to find out what trains we are getting and who will be building them this summer, most likely June.

The invitation to tender/participate is due to be issued to potential suppliers this July, the contract announcement is planned for April 2028 and as you say 2031 for first units in service.

"https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV542816" -

IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
Date: 17/07/2026

II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start: 28/04/2028

 

[TrainViation]

The invitation to tender/participate is due to be issued to potential suppliers this July, the contract announcement is planned for April 2028 and as you say 2031 for first units in service.

Thank you for the correction, I must have misread the date for "dispatch of invitations to tender" and the actual contract announcement.

 

[AMD]

So after a number of trips in the dark, i've been down in daylight recently and had a chance to record progress!

 

[TrainViation]

Really great footage on both videos! Thank you very much!

I haven't noticed any progress between Cameron Bridge and that new footbridge in Mountfleurie, since you can't really get down there.
Still quite a few blank spots in and around Leven and Thornton, but there has definitely been a significant increase in the mast count over the past 3 months.

I now have a feeling that this 2028-30 deadline will be pushed forward quite a bit, considering the progress!
I'm anticipating that the wires could be up by the end of this year, in conjunction with the Kirkcaldy - Thornton North project, and the new feeder station at the junction being energised around 2027!

 

[TheHSRailFan]

So after a number of trips in the dark, i've been down in daylight recently and had a chance to record progress!

Thanks for uploading!
Obvious they want to get the easiest part done since the parts that don't have OHLE masts seem to be the hardest ones.

The Scottish government is once again proving and doing something the Central Government won't.

 

[nilvaj395]

So after a number of trips in the dark, i've been down in daylight recently and had a chance to record progress!

It's impressive how much progress there has been so quickly. Thank the planners for already laying the foundations for the masts on the Leven line, which has undoubtedly made it much easier.

 

[RiverDon]

I noticed today there are some electrification mast piles already installed on the down line between Kirkcaldy and Kinghorn and there are quite a few lying at the side of the track ready to be installed. There is a big work site at Thornton North Junction which I guess is also connected with the electrification work

 

[gingertom]

I noticed today there are some electrification mast piles already installed on the down line between Kirkcaldy and Kinghorn and there are quite a few lying at the side of the track ready to be installed. There is a big work site at Thornton North Junction which I guess is also connected with the electrification work

could be for the feeder station.

 

[TrainViation]

Two portals assembled at Cameron Bridge station now, one at each far end of the platform. The photo shows the portal at the Leven end of the station.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Great shot and very encouraging.

 

[Scotrail344Lad]

Indeed

 

[Davester50]

While all the masts and wires going up, there's still no sign of the things that will use them for a considerable period, and seeing as it's relying on hybrid traction something new for ScotRail to learn about.
We must be at least 3-4 years away from entry in to service and that's without any problems, which even simpler AC/DC EMUs seem to attract large delays.
So how long until we can reasonably expect the first public passenger carrying train to use it?