100-day countdown clocks to Scotland's newest £116m rail link switched on

Countdown clocks marking the final 100 days until Scotland’s newest rail link goes live have been switched on.

They have been placed at the two new stations at at Leven and Cameron Bridge in Fife, and Waverley Station in Edinburgh. The six-mile track will reconnect the area to the rail network when the first services for 55 years depart on June 2. To mark the countdown, Fiona Hyslop, Transport Minister, unveiled the clock at Waverley, while local schoolchildren marked the day with a visit to the Leven sites.

The Scottish Government-funded initiative is expected to bring real economic benefits to the area as visitors and residents make use of the line.

Ms Hyslop said: “The two new stations will reduce the need for car travel and in doing so contribute to the wider decarbonisation of transport. The active travel links to the stations will encourage more walking, wheeling, and cycling which makes for healthier lifestyles. This Scottish Government investment of over £116m demonstrates our commitment to enhancing public transport links.”

The countdown clock at Waverley Station in Edinburgh (Pic: Network Rail)

Test trains have been running on the track since January. The first one departed the new Leven station at the start of the year - a two-carriage service to Glenrothes with Thornton which marked the start of driver training as they developed their knowledge of the new section between Thornton Junction and Leven.

Last autumn, Fife businesses were urged to sign up to a new ‘Rail Ready’ campaign launched by Levenmouth Local Tourism Association (LLTA) in a bid to improve people’s knowledge of local amenities and visitor attractions, and also to support companies as they sought to maximise their potential ahead of the rail link’s reinstatement.

The rail corridor runs from the existing railway at Thornton Junction to Leven - reconnecting the town to the mainline network for the first time since 1969. The two new stations will be fully accessible with car parking, electric vehicle charging points and links to the local bus network.

Alex Hynes, Scotland’s Railway managing director, said: “Levenmouth is currently the largest urban area in Scotland without a railway and I am really looking forward to seeing trains back serving these communities. The new railway will improve connectivity and provide people with real choices, unlocking greater access to education, entertainment and employment while creating opportunities for inward investment in Levenmouth.”