Track-bed clearing at Abbeyhill, Edinburgh

[PaulLothian]

My eldest daughter in Edinburgh, who is developing an interest in railway history () has advised me of clearance work on the trackbed of the disconnected Leith Central/Piershill Loop line to the south of London Road. It appeared to her that this was being neatly covered in gravel.

Anyone know what is going on?

 

[hooky3]

noticed this myself, it appears that it may just be because it has been out of use for some time, howevever i dont know if new tracks will be laid.

 

[NightatLaira]

Is this the single track bit going to the bins which used to be double track? Or somewhere else. I do get very confused about the odd bits of track around Edinburgh...

 

[PaulLothian]

The waste trains used to travel out to the east past Meadowbank. This spur has been disconnected at each end since the late 80s, after its brief resurrection for the 1986 Commonwealth Games.

 

[tbtc]

The waste trains used to travel out to the east past Meadowbank. This spur has been disconnected at each end since the late 80s, after its brief resurrection for the 1986 Commonwealth Games.

With regular "local" services going east out of Waverley (the Newcraighall service), plus the need to loop slow services, there's probably more of a case now for reopening a station at Meadowbank

 

[KBD1]

The waste trains used to travel out to the east past Meadowbank. This spur has been disconnected at each end since the late 80s, after its brief resurrection for the 1986 Commonwealth Games.

The "Binliners" still go past Meadowbank old station towards Powderhall, usually twice a day, three days a week.
It's the branch of past Meadowbank, Lochend Jn, towards Abbeyhill loop / ECML, that is disconnected.

Track still intact at old Abbeyhill station though, last time is was there.
Possible clearance due to a big relay or somewhat. The last time i was around this location, i noticed a few RRV,s.

 

[PaulLothian]

I have, by chance, probably answered my own enquiry - Network Rail's page about the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) at http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/11746.aspx

This links at the foot of the page to their plan for the Abbeyhill turnback, of which I had never previously heard any mention: two sidings off the southbound main line, one extending beyond the London Road bridge.

Nice to see it is a railway-related purpose, and one that doesn't block off any future developments.

 

[MacCookie]

I have, by chance, probably answered my own enquiry - Network Rail's page about the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) at http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/11746.aspx

The current work has probably got more to do with access for the bridge deck replacement on the ECML that is or is about to take place.

Ewan

 

[hooky3]

ballast is being laid out as we speak, when will the junction be connected to the main line?

 

[jimmymc]

The area at abbeyhill is currently being used as a compound for the company replaceing the bridge decks at abbeymount and new street. Although both bridges are now complete except from the repainting which is takeing place now. The 4-foot of the old line was indeed filled in with gravel for no reason other than to creat a nice footpath for all of us to walk to the job!

 

[och aye]

Here's a video of what it will look like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttuus7hJjAk

Shame there's no platform at the old station.