ANN GLEN reports on progress with the restoration of the five-mile branch in East Fife
The Levenmouth project involves the reopening of five miles of tracks in East Fife not far from the Firth of Forth. Although focused on the town of Leven, where the terminus will be, the railway will weave its way through the diffuse communities of Buckhaven, Methil, Windygates and others to connect with the Fife Circle route at Thornton North Junction.
Persistence has paid off for local campaigners concerned that Levenmouth, with a population of some 50,000 and growing, had been left without a direct rail link. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1969, with freight operations over a residual stretch, singled for coal haulage, ceasing in 2015. An advantage for the campaign was the retention by Network Rail of trackbed ownership, meaning there was little need for expensive land acquisition.
The Airdrie to Bathgate rail link, and then the revival of the Borders Railway, gave Fife Council the incentive to set aside £2 million to support the reopening to Levenmouth, and a feasibility study by SESTRANS (South East Scotland Transport Partnership) endorsed this move. Levenmouth would thus become a priority for ra…
