Cameron Bridge Station – 15th May 2025
I took these pictures yesterday at the new Cameron Bridge station yesterday on the Levenmouth Rail Link.
Note.
- The station has a car-park on the coming-home-from Edinburgh platform.
- There is a bridge over the River Leven, that appears to lead to new housing.
- The step-free bridge appears to be used by local residents to cross the railway.
- There appears to be a walking route for the nearby factory, which distills Scotland’s national spirit.
But as the pictures show the station has some unusual features for a small station with one train per hour (tph).
Parking
This extract from the Internet describes the parking.
A car park is available for customers with 125 spaces, including Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and blue badge spaces, as well as a drop off/pick up area and motorcycle parking.
They certainly seem to be expecting lots of commuters to Edinburgh, which is 34.5 miles away over the river.
Long Platforms
As the pictures with the three-car Class 170 train show the platforms are long.
I estimate that the platforms could take a pair of four-car Class 385 trains and almost take a nine-car Class 800 or 802 train.
Is this wishful thinking or prudent future-proofing as extending platforms can be a much more difficult exercise, than building them in the first place.
Perhaps, plans include a lot of housing, a major educational establishment, a sports stadium or some large factories to add to the distillery and long trains will be needed to serve the station.
Electrification Foundations
What surprised me, is that the station has been fitted out with the foundations for electrification gantries. There are five pairs all with four strong bolts to support the gantries over the track. This gallery shows some of the foundations.
But what also surprised me was that at no other place on the route between Edinburgh and Leven, were any electrification works visible, except where the electrification is completed between Edinburgh and Edinburgh Gateway.
I estimate that the distance between Cameron Bridge and Edinburgh Gateway is about thirty-seven miles as the train travels, which should be in range of one of ScotRail’s Hitachi Class 385 trains, that had been fitted with batteries.
- The trains would charge their batteries on the run between Edinburgh Waverley and Edinburgh Gateway stations.
- The trains would run between Edinburgh Gateway and Cameron Bridge stations on battery power. The eight intermediate stations would not have to suffer diesel trains.
- The trains would put up the pantograph at Cameron Bridge station and charge the batteries on a short length of overhead wires that will be erected there on both platforms.
- The train would run to Leven station on battery power, where it would reverse, as it does now and then return to Cameron Bridge station.
- At Cameron Bridge station, it could even pick up more charge if needed.
Note.
- The only new electrification needed would be to electrify both lines in Cameron Bridge station.
- Supposedly, Hitachi do a nice line in short lengths of electrification and all the electrical gubbins that support them.
- Because of the large distillery, Cameron Bridge is not short of electricity, with a large grid connection visible at the Edinburgh end of the station.
- No electrification will be needed over the Forth Rail Bridge, to the delight of the Heritage Taliban.
Whoever gets the contract to supply the battery-electric trains and the partial electrification, will be supplying trains that will cross one of most famous railway bridges in the world.
I also predict, that this short rail link between Edinburgh Waverley and Leven will become a tourist attraction and bring prosperity to the area.
Electrifying The Fife Circle
This OpenRailwayMap shows the whole Fife Circle Line.
Note.
- Lines shown in red are electrifield, whilst those shown in black are not and lines shown in dotted red-and-black are to be electrified.
- Cameron Bridge is marked by the blue arrow, with Leven to its East on the coast.
- The Forth Rail Bridge over the Forth of Forth is at the bottom of the map.
- To the North of the bridge, the line splits and connects to the large circular railway, which is the Fife Circle Line.
- Some trains after crossing the Forth Rail Bridge,come up the East coast via Kirkcaldy to terminate at Leven or Glenrothes with Thornton.
- Other trains from Edinburgh take the Western side of the Fife Circle via Rosyth and Cowdenbeath to Glenrothes with Thornton.
This second Open RailwayMap shows the Fife Circle Line between Cameron Bridge and Glenrothes with Thornton.
Note.
- As before, lines shown in red are electrifield, whilst those shown in black are not and lines shown in dotted red-and-black are to be electrified.
- Cameron Bridge is marked by the blue arrow, with Leven to its East on the coast.
- Glenrothes with Thornton station is in the South-Western corner of the map.
- It might even be possible for all trains to terminate on the Levenmouth Rail Link as Leven station has two platforms.
- If that is the case, the four tph would make full use of the two long platforms at Leven and Cameron Bridge stations, with the only electrification on the Fife Circle Line at Cameron Bridge station.
This is partial electrification with none of the complexity of full electrication, but with all the power it needs from the electrical connection of a large distillery.
The Wikipedia entry for the Fife Circle Line says this about the electrification.
The £55 million first phase, to electrify 65 miles (104 km) of Fife Circle track, between Haymarket and Dalmeny, for use by battery electric multiple units, was begun by Scottish Powerlines in June 2022 and is due to be completed by December 2024, although this project has been delayed and is expected to completed by December 2025. Further phases will electrify the lines between Kinghorn, Thornton, Ladybank and Lochgelly. This will allow the Fife Circle services to be operated by battery electric multiple units whilst minimising capital expenditure on infrastructure, in particular avoiding the major expense of electrifying the Forth Bridge. Complete electrification would be possible at some future date. The partial electrification was due to be completed by December 2025 but there has been some slippage in these target dates.
This OpenRailwayMap shows Kinghorn, Thornton, Ladybank and Lochgelly.
Note.
- Lines shown in red are electrifield, whilst those shown in black are not and lines shown in dotted red-and-black are to be electrified.
- Ladybank is at the top of the map indicated by a blue arrow.
- Kinghorn is at the bottom of the map on the coast.
- Ladybank and Kinghorn are connected by a section of the Aberdeen and Edinburgh Line.
- Glenrothes and Thornton are to the West of this line.
- The Levenmouth Rail Link runs to the East.
- Lochgelly and Cowdenbeath are on the West side of the map.
From what I saw yesterday, I wouldn’t be surprised if the amount of electrification to be performed has been cut back and more reliance is to be placed on on-board batteries.
Class 385 Battery-Electric Trains
The Wikipedia entry for Class 385 trains, says this about battery-electric versions.
During early 2019, Hitachi held a series of discussions with the Scottish Government on the development of a variant of the Class 385, a battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) that would be capable of running on unelectrified sections of line along a route. The installation of batteries was reportedly described as being a relatively straightforward alteration to make; an underfloor battery unit, dependent upon size, would be able to power a trainset over distances of 20 to 60 miles (30 to 100 km). The proposal drew upon Hitachi’s existing experience with battery trains operated in Japan, and had been motivated by a recommendation from the rail decarbonisation task force which advocated that such measures be implemented.
A range on batteries of sixty miles would cover the less than forty miles between Edinburgh Gateway and Ladybank.
I suspect that a range of sixty miles would bridge the gap between Edinburgh Gateway and Perth or Dundee.
Does this mean, that I think it could?
If Hitachi’s testing of their battery-electric Class 802 trains have shown phenomenal distances, then this would fit with the distances shown by Stadler’s Class 777 trains in New Merseyrail Train Runs 135km On Battery.
This leads me to believe that battery-equipped ScotRail Class 385 trains and LNER Class 800 trains are able to electrify the North of Scotland, with a few strategic charging stations like the one at Cameron Bridge station.
A Day Trip To Leven From London
On Thursday, the 15th of May, I shall be taking a day trip by train from London King’s Cross to Leven in Fife.
I shall be doing it for the following reasons.
- To see the new Levenmouth Rail Link and its two new stations : Cameron Bridge and Leven.
- To prove that it is possible to do trips like these.
- To prove that it is still possible for me to do trips like these.
- To see a couple of old friends, who live North of the Border.
- I shall probably also ride the new section of the Edinburgh Tram.
I shall be leaving London on the Lumo service at 05:48 and returning on the 16:13, which gives me around six hours in Scotland.
Construction Of New Cameron Bridge Station Begins
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Network Rail.
These four paragraphs outline the work.
Network Rail has started work to build the new Cameron Bridge station
Cameron Bridge, one of two new stations which will be built on the £116m Scottish Government Levenmouth Rail Link project, will boast two platforms with a connecting footbridge and lifts.
It will serve the western end of the line connecting the communities of Cameron Bridge and Methilhill to the rail network for the first time in more than five decades as well as serving as a ‘park and ride’ facility for communities across the East Neuk of Fife.
Located southeast of Windygates just off the A915, the new station will have 125 car parking spaces with provision for EV charging, accessible spaces and cycle storage.
The Levenmouth Rail Link is planned to open in Spring 2024
Safety Message Clear As Leven Work Ramps Up
The title of this post, is the same as that if this press release from Network Rail.
The press release has a positive tone and indicates.
- Track is starting to be laid at the Thornton end and this track will be used to help build the Levenmouth Rail Link.
- The connection to the main line at Thornton is complete.
- Safety is emphasised.
- Planning permission for the two stations should be submitted this year.
- The programme is scheduled to complete in Spring 2024.
As it is not much larger than the Okehampton scheme, which Network Rail delivered so well, I would feel that date is feasible.
Rivalry With The Northumberland Line
The Wikipedia entry for the Northumberland Line says this about the line.
The Northumberland Line is a planned passenger rail route connecting the city of Newcastle upon Tyne with Ashington, Blyth and south-east Northumberland. The route of the line uses part of the larger Blyth and Tyne Railway, a network of lines that cover south-east Northumberland. Construction of stations is planned for the summer of 2022, with the opening of the line for passenger services planned for December 2023.
Note, that both projects are planned to be completed within a few months.
Will there be an Anglo-Scottish rivalry, perhaps with pipers on both sides?
North From Thornton Junction
This Google Map shows how all the railways connect at Thornton junction.
Note.
- The village of Cameron Bridge is in the North-East corner of the map.
- The A 915 running diagonally across the map and to the East of the village of Cameron Bridge.
- In The New Cameron Bridge Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link, I showed how Cameron Bridge station was positioned to the East of the A915 and the village.
- The Levenmouth Rail Link would appear to pass to the South of the village, according to a Network Rail map in the related post.
Thornton junction is a large triangular junction in the South-West corner of the map.
- Thornton North junction is close to Thornton Golf Club, which is shown by the green marker.
- Glenrothes with Thornton station is at the Eastern point of Thornton junction.
- Trains going West from Glenrothes with Thornton station go through Dunfermline and over the Forth bridge to Edinburgh.
- Thornton South junction is South of Thornton Golf Club and leads South through Kirkcaldy station and over the Forth bridge to Edinburgh.
This second Google Map shows the main Edinburgh and Dundee rail line between Thornton Golf Club (Thornton North junction) and Markinch station, which is the next station to the North.
Note.
- The village of Cameron Bridge in the East of the map.
- Markinch station is in the North-West corner of the map.
- Thornton Golf Club (Thornton North junction) is in the South-West corner of the map.
Looking at various maps, Thornton Junction appears very complicated.
- The North-South leg of the junction is at least double-track.
- The North-East leg of the junction appears to be single-track.
- The South-East leg of the junction appears to be single-track.
- The former Levenmouth Rail Link appeared to join the main line at a single-track junction to the North of Thornton North junction
- There is lots of space.
.I’m sure Network Rail can come up with an efficient track layout, that will enable the following.
- Trains can go between Glenrothes with Thornton and Kirkcaldy stations in both directions, as they do now.
- Trains can go between Glenrothes with Thornton and Levenmouth Rail Link in both directions.
- Trains can go between Kirkcaldy station and Levenmouth Rail Link in both directions.
This would enable the service provision, that was specified in Service Provision On The Levenmouth Rail Link.
What Will Be Electrified At Thornton Junction?
This page on the Network Rail web site, says this about the trains that will run the service on the Levenmouth Rail Link.
And while the line will be electrified with overhead wires, services will be operated initially by battery electric units in order to reduce the number of diesels operating on the network as early as possible.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see full electrification between Glenrothes with Thornton and Leven stations, to make sure that the battery-electric trains had full batteries for the run South to Edinburgh.
- The other two legs of Thornton junction would also be fully electrified to give all passing trains a good charge.
- The distance between Kirkcaldy and Markinch stations is 7.3 miles and trains take about ten minutes. I suspect most of this section of the Edinburgh and Dundee line will be electrified. There looks to be about six overbridges that might need raising, but I suspect it would be nothing too terrible, with about the same degree of engineering difficulty as electrifying the Gospel Oak to Barking Line in London.
- I feel with good engineering and guile, enough electrification can be added to the route through Kirkcaldy to get the trains to the South.
- West of Glenrothes with Thornton station, the track looks to be good territory for electrification and enough wires can be added, so that by Cardenden station, there is enough power in the batteries to get the trains to the South.
I have a feeling that by intelligently using the two routes via Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline, Network Rail can increase the frequency of trains over the Forth Bridge.
- This probably partly explains, why trains to Leven go alternatively via Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline.
- 100 mph battery-electric trains help too with their sparkling acceleration.
- Who’d have thought, that at the age of one hundred and thirty, the Forth Bridge will be at the heart of an electrified local train network?
And the only new electrification is based on Thornton junction, over twenty miles to the North.
Electrification Between The Forth Bridge And Edinburgh
Without doubt, the electrification to the South of the Firth of Forth must reach as far North as possible.
Dalmeny station is the most Northerly station South of the bridge and I feel that this could be a practical place for the electrification to end.
Distances from Dalmeny to stations further North include.
- Leuchars – 41.4 miles
- Leven – via Dunfermline – 28.2 miles
- Leven – via Kirkcaldy – 27.3 miles
- Dundee – 48.8 miles
- Perth – 47.4 miles
All these destinations would be within range of Hitachi Regional Battery Trains, which are described in this Hitachi infographic.
Note that the range on battery power alone is 90 km or 56 miles.
Given that the battery-electric trains would be able to grab a battery charge as they passed through Thornton junction, I am fairly certain that Hitachi Regional Battery Trains could reach Leuchars, Dundee or Perth.
An Electric Service Between Edinburgh And Dundee
Dundee is a new station and I doubt, that it was rebuilt without provision for full electrification.
It has two through platforms for Aberdeen and Edinburgh services.
There are also two South-facing bay platforms for regional services from the South.
This picture shows the two bay platforms with an Edinburgh-bound train to the left.
Note.
- In the picture the two Class 170 diesel trains will be going to Edinburgh or Glasgow.
- Scotrail’s plans include an hourly train to both of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
If these two bay platforms were electrified with 25 KVAC overhead wires, these battery-electric services will be possible.
- Edinburgh and Dundee via Haymarket, Kirkcaldy, Thornton junction and intermediate stations.
- Glasgow Queen Street and Dundee via Stirling, Dunblane, Perth, Gleneagles and intermediate stations.
I suspect other routes battery-electric will be possible.
An Electric Service Between Dundee And Aberdeen
The distance between Dundee and Aberdeen stations is 72 miles.
In Solving The Electrification Conundrum, I described techniques being developed by Hitachi Rail and Hitachi ABB Power Grids to electrify routes like Dundee and Aberdeen.
With Hitachi looking to give battery-electric trains a range of over forty miles, it could be just two hops between Dundee and Aberdeen.
I suspect Montrose could be the charging point, as it is forty miles South of Aberdeen.
Conclusion
It appears that the proposed electrification of Levenmouth Rail Link creates an electrification island at Thornton junction, that enables battery-electric trains to reach Dundee.
Coupled with plans to electrify between Stirling and Perth, this means that both Perth and Dundee will be connected to Scotland’s electrified rail network.
I suspect it is also possible to easily extend battery-electric trains all the way to Aberdeen, with only short sections of carefully positioned overhead wires.
Related Posts
The New Leven Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
The New Cameron Bridge Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
Service Provision On The Levenmouth Rail Link
Service Provision On The Levenmouth Rail Link
The reinstated Levenmouth Rail Link, will have two stations; Leven and Cameron Bridge.
According to this section in Wikipedia, which is entitled Service Provision, this will be the service.
The expected level of services is two trains per hour between Leven railway station and Edinburgh Waverley. Both will call at Cameron Bridge. One train will travel via Kirkcaldy and along the coast, while the other train will travel via Dunfermline along the inner Fife Circle Line.
In the Wikipedia entry for Leven station, it says that the service will take just over an hour.
Consider.
- Services between Edinburgh and Glenrothes with Thornton take about an hour whether the go via Kirkcaldy or Dunfermline.
- The current timings are based on Class 158 or Class 170 diesel trains.
- If as I surmise in Trains On The Levenmouth Rail Link, the trains are battery-electric Class 385 trains, these trains with their electric power will at least match the schedules of the diesel trains.
- Network Rail will design the track layout at Thornton junction, so that trains will clear the junction efficiently.
- Glenrothes with Thornton station is only half a mile from Thornton Junction.
- Leven station is only 5.9 miles from Thornton Junction.
I can see battery-electric trains moving smoothly and quietly up and down the Levenmouth Rail Line and around Thornton junction to provide a very efficient service to Edinburgh.
Could we even see trains from Edinburgh take this route?
Edinburgh, Haymarket, Edinburgh Gateway, Dalmeny, North Queensferry, Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay, Aberdour, Burntisland, Kinghorn, Kirkaldy, Cameron Bridge, Leven, Cameron Bridge, Glenrothes with Thornton, Cardenden, Lochgelly, Cowdenbeath, Queen Margaret, Dunfermline, Dunfermline Town, Rosyth, Inverkeithing, North Queensferry, Dalmeny, Edinburgh Gateway and Haymarket.
Note.
- A second service would run in the opposite direction.
- Trains would reverse and the drivers would change cabs at Leven station.
- Trains would charge batteries on the Levenmouth Rail Link and at Edinburgh.
- Every station on the route would get two trains per hour (tph) in both directions.
The hourly service between Edinburgh and Cowdenbeath could continue.
The Bridges Across The Firth Of Forth
There would be a battery-electric train every thirty minutes in both directions across the Forth Bridge.
This Google Map shows the three bridges across the Firth of Forth.
Note.
- The most Westerly bridge is the Queensferry Crossing, which carries the M90 and was opened in 2017.
- The bridge in the middle is Forth Road Bridge, which opened in 1964.
- The Forth Bridge is the most Easterly bridge and it opened in 1890.
- North Queensberry station is to the North of the bridge and Dalmeny is to the South.
After opening of the Levenmouth Rail Link, there could be a battery-electric train every thirty minutes in both directions across the Forth Bridge.
This sounds like an opportunity to develop the bridge with its battery trains as a tourist attraction.
Battery-electric trains could run from Edinburgh to the following places.
- Dundee
- Perth
- St. Andrews
And that’s just for starters.
Conclusion
There is a lot more to the Levenmouth Rail Link, than just a double-track railway to Leven, as it enables so much.
Related Posts
The New Leven Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
The New Cameronbridge Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
Trains On The Levenmouth Rail Link
Trains On The Levenmouth Rail Link
This page on the Network Rail web site, says this about the trains that will run the service.
And while the line will be electrified with overhead wires, services will be operated initially by battery electric units in order to reduce the number of diesels operating on the network as early as possible.
The obvious battery-electric trains to be used will be Hitachi Regional Battery Trains, which are described in this Hitachi infographic.
Note that the range on battery power alone is 90 km or 56 miles.
ScotRail currently run a fleet of the following Hitachi trains.
- 46 x three-car Class 385 trains.
- 24 x four-car Class 385 trains.
Hitachi have indicated that these trains can be fitted with batteries
Could some of these trains be fitted with batteries to work the Fife Circle Line and the Levenmouth Rail Link?
Distances involved include.
- Haymarket and Glenrothes-with-Thornton via Kirkcaldy – 29.6 miles
- Haymarket and Glenrothes-with-Thornton via Dunfermline – 30.5 miles
- Leven and Thornton junction – 5.9 miles
If between Haymarket and Dalmeny stations were to be electrified, this would reduce distances on battery power by over eight miles.
It would appear that if between Leven station and Thornton junction were to be electrified, then with a battery range of forty miles, the battery-electric trains could reach Haymarket station with ease.
Conclusion
It looks to me, that Baldrick’s Scottish cousin has developed a cunning plan!
But it does show how one short length of easy electrification on a new track – Leven and Thornton Junction, can avoid a more difficult electrification – Haymarket and Glenrothes-with-Thornton, which goes over the culturally-sensitive World Heritage Site of the Forth Bridge.
North From Thornton Junction
It should be noted that Haymarket and Dundee via Kirkcaldy is 57.9 miles.
- I have just flown my virtual helicopter on the route and much of it is flat farmland.
- Electrification to the North of Thornton Junction could use the same power feed as that used for the Levenmouth Rail Link.
- A good proportion of the battery-electric trains, that are pencilled in for Edinburgh and Aberdeen have been or will be built by Hitachi.
I would expect that Hitachi’s techniques, that I talked about in Solving The Electrification Conundrum could be used to enable battery-electric Class 385 and Class 80x trains to run between Edinburgh and Dundee.
I have a feeling, that electrifying the Levenmouth Rail Link, may only be 5.9 miles of double-track electrification, but that with a few miles of electrification North of Thornton Junction, it can enable electric trains to run the following routes.
- Edinburgh and Leven via Kirkcaldy.
- Edinburgh and Leven via Dunfermline.
- Edinburgh and Dundee
- Edinburgh and Perth
Note that as Dunblane is electrified, battery-electric trains might be able to reach Dundee from Glasgow with some charging at Perth.
It does appear that electric trains could be serving Dundee.
Related Posts
The New Leven Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
The New Cameron Bridge Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
Service Provision On The Levenmouth Rail Link
The New Cameron Bridge Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
The reinstated Levenmouth Rail Link, will have two stations; Leven and Cameron Bridge.
This Google Map shows the River Leven and the remains of the old railway as they run West from Leven.
Note.
The River Leven runs South-West to North-East across the map.
The track of the old rail link runs towards Leven along the North Bank of the river.
This Map from this page on the Network Rail web site, shows the location of the new Cameron Bridge station.
Note.
- The station will be to the East of the A915 road.
- Cameron Bridge station will have two platforms.station has two platforms.
- There will be 150 car parking spaces.
- There is space for a bus stop and turning area.
- There will be two waiting shelters.
- The platforms look like they could be extended if needed.
Unlike Leven station, there will be a bridge with lifts for passengers.
Related Posts
The New Leven Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
Service Provision On The Levenmouth Rail Link
Trains On The Levenmouth Rail Link
The New Leven Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
The reinstated Levenmouth Rail Link, will have two stations; Leven and Cameron Bridge.
This Google Map shows the mouth the the River Leven.
The key point to note is the Sainsbury’s supermarket, which is to the North of the Riven Leven, close to the A955 bridge across the river.
This Map from this page on the Network Rail web site, shows the location of the new Leven station.
Note.
- Leven station has two platforms.
- There is a car park.
- There is space for a bus stop and turning area.
- There are two waiting shelters, both on the same platform
- The platforms look like they could be extended if needed.
It appears that passengers will cross the line by walking past the end of the line.
This map shows a close-up of the bridge over the River Leven.
It used to connect the railway to the coal-fired Methil power station.
Some of the track is still visible.
Is provision being made in the design of Leven station, so that the rail link can be extended across the River Leven to a second station near the Bayview stadium or to allow the development of housing or industrial sites along the Forth of Firth?
Conclusion
It looks to be a good scheme, which connects to the centre of the town and could be developed with bus and walking links for onward travel.
Related Posts
The New Cameron Bridge Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
Service Provision On The Levenmouth Rail Link
The Anonymous Widower 