Travel disruption expected as Fife Circle Line to be closed for 18 days as part of electrification works

Train services along the east coast of Scotland will face major disruption for 18 days as Network Rail carries out electrification works in Fife.

The Fife Electrification Project will see 118km of the Fife Circle Line electrified, paving the way for new electric trains to replace the ageing diesel-powered fleet.

The £311 million project has made progress since the announcement; however, major on-site work must now be carried out, resulting in closures and service disruption.

The 18-day closure starting on October 10 will impact travellers on ScotRail, LNER and Cross Country.

Cross Country

Saturday and Monday to Friday:

8.20am Aberdeen to Plymouth service will start from Edinburgh
9.27am Plymouth to Aberdeen service will terminate at Edinburgh
9.35pm Aberdeen to Edinburgh service will not run

Replacement buses will run between Dundee and Edinburgh on evenings only

Sunday:

9.27am Plymouth to Aberdeen service will terminate at Edinburgh

12.22pm Dundee to Plymouth service will start from Edinburgh

9.20pm Aberdeen to Edinburgh service will not run

The electrification works could pave the way for new electric trains on the Fife Circle Line. STV News

LNER

From Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 19, trains will be diverted via Dunfermline City and will not call at stations between Inverkeithing and Leuchars via Kirkcaldy.

Instead, replacement buses will run between Inverkeithing and Kirkcaldy.

From Tuesday, October 20, to Friday, October 23, trains will be diverted and will not call at Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldy or Leuchars. Replacement buses will run only between Edinburgh and Leuchars.

ScotRail

From Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 19, no trains will operate between Inverkeithing and Markinch via Kirkcaldy; instead, services will be diverted via Dunfermline City.

Replacement buses will run between Inverkeithing and Markinch, calling at Dalgety Bay, Aberdour, Burntisland, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes with Thornton. These buses will run hourly, with additional buses at peak times.

From Tuesday, October 20, to Friday, October 23, no trains will operate between Markinch and Perth / Dundee.

Trains between Edinburgh and Dundee/Aberdeen will divert via Stirling or Perth and will not call at stations in the Fife Circle
Trains between Edinburgh and Perth will run between Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy
Trains between Edinburgh and Leven will operate as usual

Replacement buses will operate between Kirkcaldy and Perth/Dundee.