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CILT, Edinburgh 17Th November Levenmouth Is the Largest Urban Area in Scotland with NO Rail Service BACKGROUND – FIFE RAILWAYS THORNTON-LEVEN LINE : HISTORY A

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CILT, Edinburgh 17Th November Levenmouth Is the Largest Urban Area in Scotland with NO Rail Service BACKGROUND – FIFE RAILWAYS THORNTON-LEVEN LINE : HISTORY A CILT, Edinburgh 17th November Levenmouth is the largest urban area in Scotland with NO rail service BACKGROUND – FIFE RAILWAYS THORNTON-LEVEN LINE : HISTORY a. Line opened 5th Aug 1854 (161 yrs ago) b. .. closed 4th Oct 1969 (46 yrs ago) despite local Beeching and local campaign c. Freight service to Methil Power Station (until 2001), & resumed to Earlseat (1 mile) in 2011 d. 1991/2 Campaign fails; 2008 campaign STAG Report (BCR-1.5) Scot Parl debate, Council £2m e. Not included in 2008 Strategic Transport Project Review – “loal, ot atioal eefits” e. 2014 Campaign relaunched LEVENMOUTH RAILWAYS – PAST DAYS Levenmouth Rail networks – early 20th Century THORNTON WINDYGATES LEVEN E. WEMYSS BUCKHAVEN Marshalling yards at Wellesley Pit/Methil Docks 1950s Leven Station, 1950, 60s - original station site built over with housing in 1990’s Last train – Thornton to Leven Station Oct 69 Cameron Bridge 1983 looking west to Thornton Cameron Bridge 2014 C Leven 2014 Methil East ca 1985 Earlseat 2012 -1 mile from Thornton Junction Earlseat 2014Methil East ca 1985 CURRENT SITUATION Trackbed, bridges are fully intact, in Network Rail ownership - only `mothballed’ The first mile reopened in 2012 to carry coal from Earlseat = the junction is now working Considered a priority in Fife Council plans STAG report 2 on 9th November Trains on the Leven line in 2012 Thornton North Junction 2012 THE CAMPAIGN (relaunched March 14) - RECONNECT LEVENMOUTH TO THE REST OF SCOTLAND Leven Cameron Bridge Leven G’rothes Earlseat Methil Thornton Docks ..+the first mile is already operating THE LINE IS IN PLACE – WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? STAG due 9th November Cameron Bridge/Windygates Adjoining, PASSENGER POTENTIAL S East Neuk 8,514 Kennoway Kennoway Largo 4,959 2,983 Windygates Leven STRONG CASE 2,034 8,983 Methil FOR 10,403 REINSTATEMENT E Wemyss 2,042 Buckhaven New housing 4,995 planned 5,000 Over 50,000 potential passengers live in Levenmouth and the E. Neuk catchment by 2020 + touriKirkcaldysts, bus iness traffic ESTIMATED ANNUAL PASSENGER USEAGE (2008 STAG) To/from Leven and Cameron Bridge Stations 2016 - 390,000 journeys 2031 – 416,000 journeys Most forecasts of passenger demand for recent new rail lines, stations have underestimated demand by 3-5 times Scottish Govt Infrastructure Minister Keith Brown claims we are now in a “golden age of the train in Scotland” FREIGHT POTENTIAL DEPRIVATION & REGENERATION `REGENERATION’ PRIORITIES Dundee City-Region CROSS BOUNDARY Rail services to Leven would PUBLIC TRANSPORT increase available job vacancies by S&E SCOTLAND REGION 500% - Deputy Leader Lesley Laird POORLY CONNECTED % of population working in Edinburgh Dunbar – 22% Levenmouth – 3% Edinburgh City-Region PASSENGER TRAFFIC FLOWS 1947 TRACK & LAND AVAILABLE Leven Beach Leven Town Centre Main Bus Station Power Station site Leven Retail Park East Fife STATIONS AT LEVEN & CAMERON BRIDGE Methil Docks, (inc Park & Ride) Energy Park Scope for a Fife Circle depot along the Leven branch?? LEVEN SERVED BY THE FIFE CIRCLE THE TECHNICAL PHASE STAG appraisals done 2008, then 2015 TWO OPTIONS CONSIDERED IN DEPTH A. Improved, integrated bus services to Markinch station (3 new buses), especially serving south Levenmouth 4 problems? • Undermining Leven (no tourism) • Additional links against the prevailing traffic flow (N->S) • Ongoing Council subsidy needed • Dependence on 1 bus operator B. Reopen Methil-Leven rail link for passengers and freight, 2 stations STAG 2015 SUMMARY CAPITAL COST ESTIMATES ("Generally the route was in very poor condition") Engineering works for 30 miles included: • 42 new bridges (inc 2 new viaducts) • 95 bridge refurbishments • 1.5 million tonnes of earthworks • 3.6 km of new alignments • Mine remediation incl 3,000 boreholes, 27 mineshafts • 10 km of new gabion walls • 100 kms of fibre ducting and cabling • Significant land acquisition, demolition and road closure • 7 new stations Total cost 2015: £294 million = £9.8 million per mile V. Thornton-Leven 5 miles, operational until 2001, first mile now operating to freight standard, trackbed and line intact. Total cost 2015: £ 91.1 million = £18.2 million per mile BENEFIT COST/NPV STAG 2008L 2008 Prices = £48.05 million 2016 Estimated = £76.6 million (actual £59.55m or lower V STAG 2015: 2010 Prices = £78.4 million 2015 Value = £91.1 million STAG 2008 BCR = 1.50 NPV £20.9m STAG 2015 BCR = 1.31 NPV £18.8m Bus BCR £25.6m NPV 5.19 THE CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY OUT & ABOUT Lobbying consultancy ongoing seeking commitments in party manifestoes for Holyrood elections 2016 POLITICAL SUPPORT PRESS SOCIAL MEDIA OTHER SCOTTISH PLACES WITH NO RAIL LINK (# 3) – LIKE LEVENMOUTH TALKS, MEETINGS NEXT STEPS? STAG Report and follow-up ->Fife Council Exec Committee Local/regional Drumbeat of activities – meetings, talks, Media, social media and online eg info-mmercial? National Political campaign Networks …….pesterig ………diret atio SOME CHALLENGES Recognition: `Leveouth’ not widely used – a fragmented urban concentration of 7 contiguous communities punching way below its weight. Marginalised by larger Fife towns, and new city-regions = sense of isolation Generally deprived, disempowered community hence weaker social capital = limited activism, weaker voice/influence No sigifiat `hapio’ this tie aroud politial, usiess – hence the community campaign Geeral politial support………..ut soe rivalries Couil very supportive…pressure fro other projets/priorities Transport planning methodology. Competing transport projects nationally. + stamina & endurance, maintaining interest, future direction? Thank You ..and for your support for a worthwhile cause .
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