Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link

The Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link was a project to re-open a railway line between the towns of Stirling, Alloa and Kincardine in Scotland, United Kingdom, now completed.

Background

Under Scottish Executive funding and to relieve congestion on the Forth Bridge the line between Stirling and Alloa has been reopened to passenger traffic. [cite web
url = http://www.sakrailway.co.uk/launch.htm
title = Stirling Alloa Kincardine Reopening Web Site Home Page
accessdate = 23 October
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author = tie limited (SAK Railway Inquiries)
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quote = ] Construction work started in 2005, with track laying commencing at the end of September 2006 and completing in March 2007, In addition, the route required new signalling, level crossings, and a new Alloa railway station.

Work was finished at the end of March 2008 and re-opened to the public on 19 May 2008, preceded by series of pre-opening charters on 15 May 2008.

The line between Alloa and Kincardine has also been rebuilt to allow coal trains from Hunterston Terminal, for example, to Longannet Power Station to avoid using the Forth Bridge.

History of the route

The line uses the formation of the former Stirling and Dunfermline Railway between Stirling and Alloa, and the Kincardine Line between Alloa and Dunfermline along the north shore of the River Forth past Longannet Power Station.

Construction

The line as built is a single track, with passing loops at Cambus, to the west of Alloa, and Hilton, to the east. The new eastern bypass road passes over the Hilton loop on a bridge, which is likely to become a vantage point for rail enthusiasts. The Cambus loop is to the east of the road into the village, while the original Cambus station was to the west. The passenger terminus at Alloa has a simple siding for the platform.

The original loop at Kincardine has been removed, and to obtain a better alignment the junction for the former power station sidings has been moved to the east, with a new locomotive run-round facility in the yard. The yard is currently was used for supplies of track materials, ballast etc, but is also used as a coal loading point, so that coal from open-cast workings to the north can be transported by rail to Longannet, without passing through the village of Kincardine. It is also being used in conjunction with the construction of the adjacent new road bridge across the River Forth.

Most of the level crossings on the route have been abolished, which will improve safety. However several have been retained, where alternative access would be difficult and expensive to provide.

Route and potential alternatives

A deviation to the north to avoid the villages of Clackmannan and Kincardine [cite web
url = http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/sak-rail-bill/docs/Bogside%20Options%20Appraisal.pdf
title = Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine Route Re-Opening Bogside Alignment Option Appraisal
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publisher = Babtie Group, 95 Bothwell Street, Glasgow G2 7HX
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quote = ] was rejected as it would have cost many times as much as reopening the existing route. It would have used part of the Alloa to Dunfermline route, currently used as a cycle track and footpath, but would have required a tunnel in unknown and possibly problematic conditions in order to reach Longannet, and would have removed the possibility of providing stations at either Clackmannan or Kincardine in the future.

Future expansion

Adhering to the original route provides the possibility at a future date of providing passenger services to Dunfermline, and some of the intermediate communities such as Clackmannan, Kincardine, Culross, Valleyfield or Cairneyhill. The direct route from Alloa to Dunfermline is now partly obstructed by developments on the site of the old Dunfermline Upper station, and in particular there is no prospect of access to the existing Dunfermline Town (formerly Dunfermline Lower) station by that route, however the Kincardine line gives direct access to Dunfermline Town.

There has been some discussion of the possibility of providing a service to Rosyth Ferry Terminal. [cite web
url = http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/sak-rail-bill/or-03/sa03-0402.htm
title = Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee - Official Report
accessdate = 23 January
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quote = ] This may well happen eventually as it would seem that almost all of the necessary infrastructure is in place, albeit probably not currently maintained to the standards required for passenger operations. A new station within the ferry terminal area would be required, and trains would need to reverse at Dunfermline, although that would probably be beneficial in increasing passenger numbers.

Driver training and commissioning

On 25 March 2008 the line became fully operational after signalling works over the Easter weekend to tie in the line to the existing network. On 31 March 2008 driver training began on the line to familiarise drivers with the route.

In late April 2008, much of the coal freight heading for Longannet was transferred from the Edinburgh-Glasgow line via the Forth Bridge to the new railway.

See also

*First ScotRail
*Transport in Scotland

References

External links

*cite news
title = Costs going like a runaway train
publisher = The Scotsman
url = http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/scotland/Costs-going-like-a-runaway.3329866.jp
accessdate = 2007-10-02
* [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/projects/headline-projects/SAK-railway-project/the-project/map Schematic map] of the reopened line.