Fife Railway Enhancements (1 of 2)

We've been thinking about how the railways could be improved in Fife. With excessive congestion for car drivers set to get far worse, now is the time to invest in modern railway systems. If you have any more ideas, please let us know. Of course, none of these ideas have any chance due to lack of funding . But you can always dream!

Infrastructure Improvements

• Electrification. The Fife network needs to be updated to modern standards. With the forthcoming re-routing of the line via Edinburgh Airport in a tunnel, now is the time to consider electrification. The electrified commuter network around Leeds in the Aire valley should be the model - upgraded lines and new electric trains with increased capacity. There is no way to meet the Scottish Executives pledge on a max standing time of 10 minutes using existing trains.
  
• Signalling. The pinch-points in the network need to be tackled. Power supply problems at Inverkeithing and the signalling headways on the key stretch from Inverkeithing to Dalmeny over the Forth Bridge need to be reduced. 
  
• Station layout improvements. Dalmeny station should be moved to provide two through running lines for non-stopping trains. This will allow trains to overtake other services standing in the platform - a common Japanese practice. Inverkeithing station should also be moved to the other side of the junction to allow four platforms to be built, reducing delays and improving connections. It also needs to be better protected against flooding. Currently the Edinburgh Airport station is planned to be a single island platform serving all four running lines - surely a big mistake as joining the Edinburgh to Glasgow and Fife lines at a single platform is a recipe for congestion and delay.
  
• Kinghorn Tunnel. The tunnel has been forever crooked since it was built resulting in a severe speed restriction. Rebuilding is necessary. Another speed restriction which needs to be tackled is between Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly which makes journey times between Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline uncompetitive.
  

New Lines

• Leuchars - St. Andrews. Naturally the obvious candidate is St. Andrews, with new services to Dundee.
  
• Dysart - Leven. A new line from Dysart direct to Buckhaven, Methil and Leven. Extension via the original line to St. Andrews could be a future plan. A proposal exists to re-open the freight-only line from Thornton to Methil. This is really a non-starter as the line does not pass near any centres of population.
  
• Cowdenbeath - Kinross. A new branch from Cowdenbeath to Kelty and Kinross as an alternative to the M90.
  
• Glenrothes. This suggestion would be the biggest improvement to the Fife lines. Re-routing the Cardenden to Thornton Junction section of the Fife Circle line through the centre of Glenrothes. Of course, this should have been done when the new town was built, but now is the time to fix it.
  
• Dunfermline - Alloa. The Dunfermline to Alloa line should be re-opened to allow direct access to Stirling and Glasgow from Kirkcaldy. However it needs to offer fast services and not just be a meandering branch line.