Fife Rail Electrification/Decarbonisation

[zwk500]

Farnworth Tunnel type solution?

Farnworth tunnel had a big advantage in that the adjacent bore (that was abandoned) could be used to maintain a restricted level of service while the tunnel was re-bored.

Possibly, though it depends on the geological conditions.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaskaandjim/10166126524/ this image suggests Kinghorn sits on carboniferous limestone. No idea if that is good or bad to tunnel through.

Worth also noting there's houses directly on top of the tunnel, so any attempt to re-bore the tunnel would need to consider the risk of damage from ground movement.

 

[Trackbasher84]

Not forgetting the minor issue of getting someone to agree to fork out for all that?

 

[QueensCurve]

That'll be this one I guess which I was stood on earlier this afternoon.
Definitely in need of replacement !!

The railway seems to have forgotten the lessons from the person who fell through a bridge in Nottingham and got a broken back 45 years or more ago.

 

[gingertom]

Possibly, though it depends on the geological conditions.

and of course the costs involved with whatever intervention is necessary. No doubt there will be options, like track lowering, slab track, Farnsworth-like rebore, and the cheapest will win. W12 Gauge clearance could be handy too.

 

[Ginaro]

They'd be better re-digging the tunnel altogether, which would allow clearance for OLE as well as raising the speed limit from the painfully slow 30mph.

The 30mph section is about 400m, even doubling that length to account for trains slowing down/speeding up, and then increasing it to 45mph, would be a saving of about 20 seconds (and only for trains that don't stop at Kinghorn). Guess the question is, could that (plus electrification acceleration benefits) be enough justification for all the costly work?

 

[37025]

My favoured photo spot close to the site of the closed Dysart station will be out of bounds at the start of next month.
Maybe raising the sides for the forthcoming electrification work ?

 

[TrainViation]

My favoured photo spot close to the site of the closed Dysart station will be out of bounds at the start of next month.
Maybe raising the sides for the forthcoming electrification work ?

Yes, that is correct. They’re just adding parapets to heighten the side of the bridge and probably other safety measures. Probably means you’ll have to look higher over to see over the bridge this time unfortunately.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Feb 2026 ==

I’ve also noticed that the SPL Powerlines hut at the location of the new feeder station had Siemens logos on it. Not sure if that has any relation to the new Desiro Verve and their own “Siemens fast charging feeder station”?

 

[59CosG95]

Yes, that is correct. They’re just adding parapets to heighten the side of the bridge and probably other safety measures. Probably means you’ll have to look higher over to see over the bridge this time unfortunately.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Feb 2026 ==

I’ve also noticed that the SPL Powerlines hut at the location of the new feeder station had Siemens logos on it. Not sure if that has any relation to the new Desiro Verve and their own “Siemens fast charging feeder station”?

Nope, most likely because Siemens have provided the feeder themselves. Most/all the ECML upgraded substations are Siemens, along with the newer ones on the MML. ABB did a few on the GWML, I seem to remember.

 

[TrainViation]

Went on the Leven line for the first time yesterday and decided to film the progress of OLE.
Seems to have moved on a decent bit since the last video courtesy of @AMD
However, progress still needs to be made around Cameron Bridge, Leven and Earlseat Junction.

(A video showing the newly installed overhead line electrification masts on the Levenmouth Rail Link.)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2026 ==

Nope, most likely because Siemens have provided the feeder themselves. Most/all the ECML upgraded substations are Siemens, along with the newer ones on the MML. ABB did a few on the GWML, I seem to remember.

Ah right, sorry I didn't know about that. Thanks for telling me.

 

[AMD]

Quite probably one of the most uninteresting photos i've taken for a while.... a new access point has been constructed about a mile south of Thornton Junction.

 

[TrainViation]

Quite probably one of the most uninteresting photos i've taken for a while.... a new access point has been constructed about a mile south of Thornton Junction.

Certainly interesting enough! Looks like it's in a field between Standing Stane road and the railway, around about here:

 

[dr140]

Noticed today that a lot of masts have appeared between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy. Great to see the rate of progress!

 

[TrainViation]

Noticed today that a lot of masts have appeared between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy. Great to see the rate of progress!

I've noticed about 50-60 piles between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy on Saturday, but no masts. Is it definitely the gantry poles or just the foundations?

 

[dr140]

I've noticed about 50-60 piles between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy on Saturday, but no masts. Is it definitely the gantry poles or just the foundations?

Yes it's the actual electrification masts that would support the wires (sorry, not sure on the technical terms), not just the foundations. I was very surprised to see them too! There's at least 10-20 on each side of the line in the area where the A921 goes under the railway coming into Kirkcaldy from Kinghorn.

 

[TrainViation]

Yes it's the actual electrification masts that would support the wires (sorry, not sure on the technical terms), not just the foundations. I was very surprised to see them too! There's at least 10-20 on each side of the line in the area where the A921 goes under the railway coming into Kirkcaldy from Kinghorn.

Thank you for confirming, and sorry if that came off a bit condescending of your knowledge...
Unrelated but quite useful (for me too), I downloaded this diagram to help me remember the different components, I'll just drop it here:

 

[dr140]

Thank you for confirming, and sorry if that came off a bit condescending of your knowledge...
Unrelated but quite useful (for me too), I downloaded this diagram to help me remember the different components, I'll just drop it here:
View attachment 198984

No worries at all and thanks for the diagram. Yes, it's definitely this I saw today, maybe minus the contact wire and registration arm etc. Definitely the mast and cantilever.

 

[TrainViation]

No worries at all and thanks for the diagram. Yes, it's definitely this I saw today, maybe minus the contact wire and registration arm etc. Definitely the mast and cantilever.

Yes that all sounds good. The masts are usually installed parallel to the track (swung 90 degrees away from it) and without the registration arm or any wires installed.

 

[dr140]

Yes that all sounds good. The masts are usually installed parallel to the track (swung 90 degrees away from it) and without the registration arm or any wires installed.

Yes, it looked exactly like that. Fantastic to see how quickly it all comes together

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Noticed today that a lot of masts have appeared between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy. Great to see the rate of progress!

I've noticed about 50-60 piles between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy on Saturday, but no masts. Is it definitely the gantry poles or just the foundations?

Yes it's the actual electrification masts that would support the wires (sorry, not sure on the technical terms), not just the foundations. I was very surprised to see them too! There's at least 10-20 on each side of the line in the area where the A921 goes under the railway coming into Kirkcaldy from Kinghorn.

Absolutely brilliant news.

No worries at all and thanks for the diagram. Yes, it's definitely this I saw today, maybe minus the contact wire and registration arm etc. Definitely the mast and cantilever.

Yes, it looked exactly like that. Fantastic to see how quickly it all comes together

 

[37025]

1E11 passing some of the newly installed masts at Seafield this morning.

 

[59CosG95]

1E11 passing some of the newly installed masts at Seafield this morning.

They've not been hanging about then!

 

[Southsider]

They've not been hanging about then!

It was the same on East Kilbride when they started putting up pre-assembled masts and cantilevers. Presumably this innovation (if it is one) is benefiting electrification schemes across the country.

 

[TrainViation]

It was the same on East Kilbride when they started putting up pre-assembled masts and cantilevers. Presumably this innovation (if it is one) is benefiting electrification schemes across the country.

I’ve heard that it saves time assembling the cantilevers on the masts in the compounds and putting them up like that, to save them coming back later to put them on which saves a bit of time I’d imagine.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I’ve heard that it saves time assembling the cantilevers on the masts in the compounds and putting them up like that, to save them coming back later to put them on which saves a bit of time I’d imagine.

Possession time is of course very precious.

 

[59CosG95]

I’ve heard that it saves time assembling the cantilevers on the masts in the compounds and putting them up like that, to save them coming back later to put them on which saves a bit of time I’d imagine.

Indeed it does. The brackets on the masts for the cantilevers have to be set at a specific separation, and the last thing you want is to be fannying about with them on site proper!
(Take it from me! Many hours were spent trying to adjust the brackets on the new OLE at Werrington Jn to mollify a very pedantic NWR Project Engineer)

 

[37025]

Masts now reached Starks Park, albeit with a gap over the Invertiel Viaduct. Getting closer to Kirkcaldy station.

 

[Scotrail344Lad]

Great Update Thanks

 

[37025]

One of the main roads through Kirkcaldy to be closed for a year due to bridge replacement work.
Think this was mentioned earlier in the thread, but now confirmed by Network Rail:

Bennochy Bridge: year-long closure in Kirkcaldy - when it starts and what work is being done

A busy bridge over Kirkcaldy’s rail line will be closed to all traffic for over a year as part of major engineering works.

www.fifetoday.co.uk

The footbridge at the end of my street was open to pedestrians again today.
Seems like an anti slip surface and painting of the step edges is the only work that has been done. No parapet work yet.

 

[TrainViation]

One of the main roads through Kirkcaldy to be closed for a year due to bridge replacement work.
Think this was mentioned earlier in the thread, but now confirmed by Network Rail:

Bennochy Bridge: year-long closure in Kirkcaldy - when it starts and what work is being done

A busy bridge over Kirkcaldy’s rail line will be closed to all traffic for over a year as part of major engineering works.

www.fifetoday.co.uk

The footbridge at the end of my street was open to pedestrians again today.
Seems like an anti slip surface and painting of the step edges is the only work that has been done. No parapet work yet.

I noticed that Bennochy bridge closure months ago, and always knew it would be an absolute pain in the arse considering it's such a main road for the area.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Mar 2026 ==

No evidence yet, but my friend said there are piles in the ground between Dysart and Thornton Junction, most likely around the new access point @AMD found.
I'll try and go out and get some photos or videos soon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Mar 2026 ==

Cardenden Station to recieve new footbridge, as well as new electrification visuals available on Fife Council planning permissions website.

 

[AMD]

So i've finally been out and had a look at progress when it's not dark or tipping down with rain....

Also noted piles in the ground between Thornton Junction and the access point about a mile south.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Mar 2026 ==

I had forgotten that I had taken a photo of Thornton feeder station....