Fife Circle electrification gets underway

Procurement of new rolling stock to work the routes also begins.

“The development work also being progressed on Borders electrification and on procuring new rolling stock shows we are fully focused on rail decarbonisation."

WORK to lay foundations that will pave the way for the electrification of the Fife Circle is getting underway. In the first phase of a project which will cost £55m, Network Rail will begin to pile the foundations for the masts to carry the overhead wires between Haymarket and Dalmeny, just south of the Forth Bridge. have The 25 aim Single is to Track Kilometres (STKs) electrified by December 2024 as part of Scotland’s aim to decarbonise its network by 2035. Further phases of work will see the partial electrification of lines in Fife totalling a further 104 STKs, with the aim of introducing battery electric multiple units to replace life-expired DMUs which will be phased out. Partial electrification provides a reduction in infrastructure and associated capital expenditure costs but makes projects more affordable, and enables electrification of key trunk routes to start as a priority so the benefits of an electrified railway will be realised earlier. Additionally, it does not preclude full electrification occurring at a future date. A procurement competition to identify a preferred manufacturer and financier for new trains to operate decarbonised services on the routes covered by Fife East and Kilbride, Borders routes, has been approved. This new rolling stock order will replace 42 Class 156s DMUs, 21 Class 318s and 34 Class 320 EMUs. Scottish Government Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “It is great news that the first phase of the Fife electrification project is getting underway.

“Delivery of the Fife electrification project will support introduction of new rolling stock through partial electrification of the route. It will also help towards the delivery of our Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan which will see removal of all diesel trains on passenger services by 2035.”

She added: “The development work also being progressed on Borders electrification and on procuring new rolling stock shows we are fully focused on rail decarbonisation.

The phases of work have been confirmed as follows:

■ Phase 1: Haymarket to Dalmeny (25 STKs)

■ Phase 2: Kinghorn to Thornton North (25 STKs)

■ Phase 3: Thornton North to Lochgelly (20 STKs)

■ Phase 4: Thornton North to Ladybank (34 STKs)

NETWORK RAIL A graphic showing the four phases of the electrification plan for Fife, West Lothian and east of Edinburgh.

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly competitive rates are paid, especially if exclusive to The RM.