Powderhall Branch Junction, Edinburgh - future use?

[LickeyIncliner]

A few months ago it was reported on this thread:

Broken Rail at Edinburgh ,-28/04/2023

See a broken rail is causing problems southbound on the East Coast from Edinburgh. Why are there more problems of broken rails, is it poor maintenance checks? https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/edinburgh-20240428/

www.railforums.co.uk

that the points from the ECML to the disused Powderhall Branch had been removed and replaced with plain line, following a broken rail there. The suggestion was that this was an overdue removal of the pointwork, as the line has been disused for at least 7 years (it was last used by "binliner" trains hauling refuse from the Powderhall Waste Transfer Depot) and there are no plans for it to reopen.

I live next to the branch line, a long way from the junction; despite being that far away I've received a "neighbour notification" letter from Network Rail warning me of work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day for tamping the points at the junction.

This presumably means that the points are being reinstated. My question is : why are Network Rail doing that, rather than leaving it as plain line, when there seem to be no plans to use the branch again, and an intention (from the City Council) eventually to turn it into a footpath/cycleway?

 

[leightonbd]

A few months ago it was reported on this thread:

Broken Rail at Edinburgh ,-28/04/2023

See a broken rail is causing problems southbound on the East Coast from Edinburgh. Why are there more problems of broken rails, is it poor maintenance checks? https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/edinburgh-20240428/

www.railforums.co.uk

that the points from the ECML to the disused Powderhall Branch had been removed and replaced with plain line, following a broken rail there. The suggestion was that this was an overdue removal of the pointwork, as the line has been disused for at least 7 years (it was last used by "binliner" trains hauling refuse from the Powderhall Waste Transfer Depot) and there are no plans for it to reopen.

I live next to the branch line, a long way from the junction; despite being that far away I've received a "neighbour notification" letter from Network Rail warning me of work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day for tamping the points at the junction.

This presumably means that the points are being reinstated. My question is : why are Network Rail doing that, rather than leaving it as plain line, when there seem to be no plans to use the branch again, and an intention (from the City Council) eventually to turn it into a footpath/cycleway?

I’m in Edinburgh too, and walk close to there often, but what is more relevant is that someone much wiser than me once said, on this forum, that ‘the railway works from the railway’ and maybe they want to be able to send a train down there which will remove track, ballast, other valuable kit, etc?

 

[mcmad]

A few months ago it was reported on this thread:

Broken Rail at Edinburgh ,-28/04/2023

See a broken rail is causing problems southbound on the East Coast from Edinburgh. Why are there more problems of broken rails, is it poor maintenance checks? https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/edinburgh-20240428/

www.railforums.co.uk

that the points from the ECML to the disused Powderhall Branch had been removed and replaced with plain line, following a broken rail there. The suggestion was that this was an overdue removal of the pointwork, as the line has been disused for at least 7 years (it was last used by "binliner" trains hauling refuse from the Powderhall Waste Transfer Depot) and there are no plans for it to reopen.

I live next to the branch line, a long way from the junction; despite being that far away I've received a "neighbour notification" letter from Network Rail warning me of work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day for tamping the points at the junction.

This presumably means that the points are being reinstated. My question is : why are Network Rail doing that, rather than leaving it as plain line, when there seem to be no plans to use the branch again, and an intention (from the City Council) eventually to turn it into a footpath/cycleway?

The works at Christmas are to remove the pointwork. When it failed it was only the crossing that was temporarily removed.

 

[swt_passenger]

The works at Christmas are to remove the pointwork. When it failed it was only the crossing that was temporarily removed.

Presumably once it’s fully plain lined they’ll also be altering the track cant to whatever the normal amount is for the line’s curvature? That would require tamping over quite a significant distance?

 

[mcmad]

Its only the connection to the branch being removed, the crossover will remain as its also the access to Craigentinny so no change in cant required.

 

[LickeyIncliner]

The works at Christmas are to remove the pointwork. When it failed it was only the crossing that was temporarily removed.

Thanks!

 

[rower40]

Is the same fate going to befall the Leith line? If not, what trains are booked (or planned) to use it?

 

[swt_passenger]

What happened to the proposal a few years ago to re-double one of the tunnels, and provide a down direction loop via the Abbeyhill curve, wasn’t that going to rejoin the main line where this junction is being removed?

 

[InOban]

I'm sure there are plans in drawers...
There are certainly plans to create additional through platforms on the North side of Waverley to allow more trains to run through eg Fife to the Borders or North Berwick. and reopening the Abbeyhill loop would help.

 

[Kite159]

Would be better to turn it into another mixed used cyclepath/active travel path,

 

[LickeyIncliner]

What happened to the proposal a few years ago to re-double one of the tunnels, and provide a down direction loop via the Abbeyhill curve, wasn’t that going to rejoin the main line where this junction is being removed?

Yes, the loop via Abbeyhill rejoins the ECML at the same junction

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Nov 2024 ==

Would be better to turn it into another mixed used cyclepath/active travel path,

That is the City Council's plan:

Council nearing deal on Powderhall railway line

The council is nearing a deal with Network Rail to acquire the former Powderhall Railway Line which could then be used as an off-road path. While the negotiations have continued designed work was put on hold, to restart when an agreement was near which council officers now say it is. The rail...

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

 

[Mag_seven]

A few months ago it was reported on this thread:

Broken Rail at Edinburgh ,-28/04/2023

See a broken rail is causing problems southbound on the East Coast from Edinburgh. Why are there more problems of broken rails, is it poor maintenance checks? https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/edinburgh-20240428/

www.railforums.co.uk

that the points from the ECML to the disused Powderhall Branch had been removed and replaced with plain line, following a broken rail there. The suggestion was that this was an overdue removal of the pointwork, as the line has been disused for at least 7 years (it was last used by "binliner" trains hauling refuse from the Powderhall Waste Transfer Depot) and there are no plans for it to reopen.

I live next to the branch line, a long way from the junction; despite being that far away I've received a "neighbour notification" letter from Network Rail warning me of work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day for tamping the points at the junction.

This presumably means that the points are being reinstated. My question is : why are Network Rail doing that, rather than leaving it as plain line, when there seem to be no plans to use the branch again, and an intention (from the City Council) eventually to turn it into a footpath/cycleway?

Thread reopened for an update from @Inafinus

 

[Inafinus]

Two posts on this new (I think?) advocacy website include some interesting detail on the future of the line:

1. The council is pressing the Scottish Government for funding to support converting the line, so it’s likely it will happen
   1. https://powderhalllink.wordpress.com/2026/08/15/cec-writes-to-sg/
2. This FOI states NR owns the full line and all infrastructure (perhaps no surprises
   1. https://powderhalllink.wordpress.com/2026/07/08/nr-confirms-all-p-l-for-sale/
3. Perhaps more intriguing, the same FOI states “DB cargo currently retains a depot lease on this section of the railway”

The final point must be a legacy of the old waste transfer plant, though why DB would retain the lease on an out of use line is a mystery to me. One wonders how such a thing could be lost down the financial sofa, even at a giant business?

 

[Ginaro]

What can DB Cargo do with a lease for a disconnected line where there's no depot and trains won't run again?

Just keep it for many years and prevent anything from happening (presumably until someone pays enough money)?
If Network Rail removed the fence and rails, what could DB Cargo do about it?

 

[ajwffc]

it is probably easier to keep the lease than go through the process of getting rid of it