Date: 14th October 2008

SEStran will back improved rail services for Fife

Strategy will add extra capacity and reduce journey times.

SEStran’s board is to consider a report on proposed timetable changes that will lead to significant improvements to rail services in Fife.

Network Rail’s Scotland Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) outlines several improvements to the timetable throughout Fife, which will lead to increases in rail services across the Forth of one or two trains per hour in each direction. 

The proposed changes include:

·         Reduced journey times between Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen, stopping at Leuchars.

·         A new hourly First Scotrail service between Edinburgh and Dundee

·         A new First Scotrail service from Edinburgh to Perth via Fife.

·         The Fife Circle Service to link with the Edinburgh Crossrail service to and from Newcraighall.

SEStran Chair, Cllr Russell Imrie said:

“Improving rail links for transport and freight is a key part of SEStran’s Regional Transport Strategy. These changes will lead to a better rail service across the Forth, and improved travel choice for the people of Fife.”

“Faster and more frequent services mean that people get to their destinations faster and have greater flexibility in choosing their travel times. It is only through service providers offering improvements in this way that we will be able to achieve our goal of making public transport the mode of choice for most people,

”ENDS

SEStran - South East of Scotland Transport Partnership - is one of seven new Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) created by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 and is a partnership of eight local councils covering the Borders, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Dougal,

SEStran Communications Officer

T: 0131-524-5161

M: 07889-010-291

E: Andrew.dougal@sestran.gov.uk 

 END 

Notes :  Upgraded Fife Rail Timetable 

1. Introduction

 1.1  The Network Rail document Scotland Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) outlined several improvements to the timetable through Fife. This matter was reported to the Board during the consultation process as well as after the final report was published in March 2007. 

1.2 It has now been announced that the new timetable will be implemented on 14 December 2008.  

1. Main Timetable Changes

 2.1. There will be reduced journey times by around 10 minutes between Edinburgh and Aberdeen/Dundee. This will largely be achieved by only stopping at Leuchars between Edinburgh and Dundee. To compensate, a new hourly First ScotRail service will be introduced between Edinburgh and Dundee, with the same stopping pattern through Fife as the existing Aberdeen service. The stopping pattern of National Express and Arriva trains north of Edinburgh will not be affected. 

2.2. There will be a new First ScotRail semi-fast service between Edinburgh and Perth that together with the Edinburgh – Perth – Inverness train will form an hourly service to Perth through Fife. 

2.3. The Fife Circle service will remain largely unchanged other than the stopping service between Edinburgh and Markinch will now terminate at Kirkcaldy.

2.4. The Edinburgh cross-rail service to/from Newcraighall will now link into the Fife Circle service rather than the Dunblane/Bathgate services. 

1. Discussion

 3.1. Overall, there will be a significant increase in rail services across the Forth by one or two trains per hour in each direction. 

3.2. The service(s) between Edinburgh and Dundee will double in frequency to half hourly – which will also be reflected in the number of trains serving Leuchars. 

3.3. Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldy, Markinch and Ladybank will all gain through the extra service between Edinburgh and Perth – although Markinch will lose the slow stopping service.  The improved service to Perth is also welcome. 

3.4. It is disappointing that main Fife stations (with the exception of Leuchars) will no longer have direct connections to Aberdeen and stations north of Dundee – necessitating achange of trains in Dundee. SEStran and Fife argued that at least Kirkcaldy should be included in the Edinburgh – Aberdeen timetable – but without success. This is especially disappointing since part of the time saving will be utilised for some of the Edinburgh- Aberdeen trains to stop at the new Laurencekirk station (when opened). This means there will be direct rail connections between Laurencekirk and Edinburgh but not between Kirkcaldy and Aberdeen.  

3.5. The number of trains serving Brunstane and Newcraighall will be the same as at present but they will now be linked with Fife via South Gyle rather than Dunblane/Bathgate via Edinburgh Park. It is of concern to note that in the morning peak, only half of the trains will continue beyond Waverley, thereby reducing the direct link to West Edinburgh. SEStran will raise this issue with First ScotRail / Transport Scotland as relevant. 

1. Recommendation

 4.1. The Board is asked to note the content of this report. 

Trond Haugen 

Advisor to SEStran 

7th October 2008 

Policy Implications : None 

Financial Implications : None  

Race Equalities Implications : None  

Gender Equalities Implications : None 

Disability Equalities Implications : None

 

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