As part of our vision to support thriving, connected, and resilient communities and destinations that are great places to live, work, and visit, we are holding a public consultation on a proposed new timetable for services between Edinburgh, Fife, and the Tay Cities. This includes services to the new stations at Cameron Bridge and Leven.
The consultation took place between Monday, 11 September 2023, and Monday, 23 October 2023. We are no longer accepting responses.
The reopening of the Levenmouth Rail Link will provide the area with a major boost to economic sustainability and connectivity. It will deliver opportunities for local people, unlocking access to education, culture, entertainment, and employment options, as well attracting new business and investment.
We have taken this opportunity to proposes changes to the timetable that will benefit people across Fife, based on feedback received from customers and stakeholders.
The planned timetable will be introduced in 2025 once we have completed the necessary steps required to ensure that we have enough resources to do so. When the Levenmouth Rail Link opens in late spring / early summer 2024, we will introduce one of two interim timetables that will deliver many of the benefits of the planned timetable. This phased approach will ensure that we operate a reliable train service across all of Fife when the line reopens, which is essential in making rail an attractive mode of transport, and ensuring that the new stations at Leven and Cameron Bridge are a success.
We would like to hear communities’ views on the two interim timetable options to help inform the decision on which timetable will be introduced. We are also seeking detailed feedback on the proposed final timetable for the Levenmouth Rail Link.
More details on the Levenmouth Rail Link are available on the Scotland’s Railway website.
In 2025, ScotRail plans to introduce the following service between Edinburgh, Fife, and the Tay Cities. This timetable has considered feedback from customers and stakeholders received during the Fit for the Future consultation in 2021 and more recent feedback:
- One local train per hour from Edinburgh to Leven via Kirkcaldy.
- One local train per hour from Edinburgh to Perth via Kirkcaldy (as operates at present).
- One local train per hour from Edinburgh to Cowdenbeath via Dunfermline (as operates at present).
- One local train per hour from Edinburgh to Leven via Dunfermline and Cowdenbeath.
- One semi-fast train per hour from Edinburgh to Dundee via Kirkcaldy.
- Two intercity trains every three hours between Edinburgh and Aberdeen (as operates at present).
- Additional peak local services between Edinburgh and Fife (as operates at present).
Our planned timetable will provide Leven with a daytime service level of two trains per hour to Edinburgh, including at peak periods. This will also provide Leven and Cameron Bridge with an hourly service to Kirkcaldy, Cowdenbeath, and Dunfermline.
The timetable offers wide benefits for communities in Fife and Dundee, including faster journey times and better connectivity to North Queensferry and Dalmeny.
We would like to hear your views on the proposed 2025 timetable for services between Edinburgh, Fife, and the Tay Cities. We will listen to what you have to say and consider how that feedback can be used to make changes, so that the timetable better reflects how people will use the railway in the future.
Leven and Cameron Bridge will have an hourly service on Sundays, consistent with other stations in Fife. ScotRail will use feedback it receives on the Monday to Saturday timetable to produce the Sunday timetable.
We anticipate that this Planned Timetable will be introduced in 2025. To ensure that a reliable service can be provided for new and existing customers, two interim timetable options have been developed that can be introduced when the Levenmouth Rail Link reopens in late spring / early summer 2024. The interim timetable will be in place while we complete the steps required to have sufficient resources to operate the Planned Timetable across Fife and Tay Cities with the reliability our customers need and deserve.
ScotRail’s proposed Interim Timetable A would provide the following:
- Two local trains per hour from Edinburgh to Leven via Dunfermline. These are extensions of the existing Edinburgh to Cowdenbeath and Glenrothes services that we operate.
- One local train per hour from Edinburgh to Perth via Kirkcaldy (as operates at present).
- One local per hour from Edinburgh to Dundee via Kirkcaldy (as operates at present).
- Two intercity trains every three hours between Edinburgh and Aberdeen (as operates at present).
- Additional peak local services between Edinburgh and Fife (as operates at present).
The evening timetable will continue to provide one train per hour between Edinburgh and local stations via Cowdenbeath, and one train per hour between Edinburgh and local stations via Kirkcaldy.
This timetable will offer Leven two trains per hour to Edinburgh, Cowdenbeath, and Dunfermline, but will not provide direct services to Kirkcaldy.
This timetable would not address feedback received about local connectivity in the existing Fife timetable between Dalmeny, North Queensferry and local stations to Kirkcaldy.
Leven and Cameron Bridge will have an hourly service on Sundays, consistent with other stations in Fife. ScotRail will use feedback it receives on the Monday to Saturday timetable to produce the Sunday timetable.
ScotRail’s proposed Interim Timetable B includes the following services:
- One local train per hour from Edinburgh to Leven via Kirkcaldy.
- One local train per hour from Edinburgh to Perth via Kirkcaldy (as operates at present).
- One local train per hour from Edinburgh to Cowdenbeath (as operates at present).
- One local train per hour from Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton via Cowdenbeath (as operates at present).
- One semi-fast train per hour from Edinburgh to Dundee via Kirkcaldy.
- Two intercity trains every three hours between Edinburgh and Aberdeen (as operates at present).
- Additional peak local services between Edinburgh and Fife (as operates at present).
This timetable will provide an enhanced evening service of two local trains per hour between Edinburgh and Cowdenbeath, and two local trains per hour between Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy.
This timetable will provide customers in Leven with one train per hour from Leven to Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh. However, there would be no direct service from Leven to Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline, requiring customers to change trains at Inverkeithing.
This timetable would address feedback received from customers and stakeholders over connectivity between Dalmeny, North Queensferry, and the Fife coastal stations along with addressing feedback received regarding journey times between Dundee, Leuchars, Cupar, Ladybank, Markinch, and Edinburgh.
We recognise that this option does not give two trains per hour between Leven and Edinburgh. However, it provides a faster journey time to Edinburgh, improves connections from Leven to the north, and offers wider benefits for communities in Fife and Dundee.
Leven and Cameron Bridge will have an hourly service on Sundays, consistent with other stations in Fife. ScotRail will use feedback it receives on the Monday to Saturday timetable to produce the Sunday timetable.
We wanted your feedback on the proposed timetable and interim timetable options so that we can provide the best service for existing and future customers.
We particularly wanted to understand:
- Where you travel to and from, and whether that will change with the reopening of the Levenmouth Rail Link.
- Whether the planned timetable for 2025 meets the needs of existing and future customers.
- Whether you have a preference between the two interim timetables, and if so why.
- Help us to identify any potential unintended consequences and take them into account when finalising the timetable.
The consultation took place between Monday, 11 September 2023, and Monday, 23 October 2023. We are no longer accepting responses.
ScotRail will carefully consider all views and will look at what changes can be made in response to them. ScotRail will submit a feedback report to Transport Scotland that we will also publish on the ScotRail website.