First phase of work begins to reinstate Leven passenger services

Credit: Network Rail

Network Rail will shortly begin the first phase of work which will lead to the reinstatement of passenger services to Leven.

Engineers will be carrying out vegetation clearance and site survey and geological investigations to inform the development of the project, which will see the reinstatement of 19km of single track railway and two new modern, accessible stations for the east of Fife.

As part of the Scottish Government’s rail decarbonisation agenda, the Leven line will also be prepared for future electrification.

Ahead of work starting Network Rail has undertaken all necessary environmental and ecological surveys. Where any species have been identified, appropriate methods of working are in place to safeguard species, roosts and habitats of value.

The equipment which will be used to clear the vegetation will include chainsaws, and chipping machines as well as plant and machinery.

This phase of work will also include surveying, drilling boreholes, sampling ballast and extracting core samples to assess the condition of the ground under the railway. A variety of equipment including boring rigs, and drills will be used all along the line with work ongoing until early 2021.

“Although still at a very early stage, it is fantastic to see work happening literally preparing the ground and to inform the design of the line [for Leven],” commented Graeme Stewart of Network Rail’s Levenmouth project team.

“The development and delivery of the Leven project will be in discreet phases with the first visible work; removal of vegetation to enable site and geological investigation SI/GI the start of a process which will culminate on the community once again having access to the mainline rail network.”

The reinstatement of Levenmouth Rail Link is a part of wider improvements to Scotland’s railway infrastructure, rolling stock and service provision that will provide a major boost to economic sustainability as well as to its connectivity.