Eighteen-day October closure will enable bridge rebuilds and electrification preparations across Fife, with passengers advised to check timetables as some trains are replaced by buses.

With a month to go, passengers in Fife are being urged to plan ahead for service changes in October as Network Rail enters a crucial phase of work to modernise the route.

The programme forms part of the Scottish Government’s £311.5m plan to electrify 118km of railway in Fife and introduce new battery-electric trains, cutting diesel use, lowering emissions and delivering quieter, more sustainable journeys.

Across an intensive 18-day period next month, engineers will progress key preparations for electrification.

bridges will be demolished and rebuilt to create space for overhead power lines — at Bennochy Road in Kirkcaldy, Muriespot near Coaltown of Balgonie and Main Street in Thornton — while the bridge at Cardenden Road in Cardenden will also be upgraded during the line closure.

Teams will continue installing foundations for overhead line masts, adjust sections of track and upgrade signalling equipment used to control train movements.

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To carry out the work safely, temporary changes to services will apply. From Saturday 10 to Friday 23 October, no trains will run via Kirkcaldy; some CrossCountry, LNER and ScotRail services will be revised and rail replacement buses will operate (full details: www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/service-alterations/key-stage-electrification-work-in-fife-no-trains-kirkcaldy).

rom Saturday 24 to Tuesday 27 October, buses will replace ScotRail trains between Cowdenbeath and Leven (full details: https://WWW.SCOTRAIL.CO.UK/PLAN-YOUR-JOURNEY/SERVICE-ALTERATIONS/BUSES-REPLACE-TRAINS-BETWEEN-COWDENBEATH-AND-LEVEN-SATURDAY).

Paul Reilly, senior programme manager at Network Rail Scotland, said: "This 18-day closure will allow us to complete some of the biggest and most complex elements of the work needed to electrify the railway in Fife.

"Rebuilding bridges and upgrading the track for electric trains isn't possible while trains are still running. By bringing these activities together into a single closure, we can make significant progress towards a cleaner, more modern railway.

"We know the disruption this will cause isn't ideal and we're grateful to passengers for their patience. The investment being made now will help ensure the railway continues to serve communities across Fife for decades to come."

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “This work is an important step forward in delivering a more modern, sustainable, and reliable railway for Scotland.

We’re working closely with Network Rail to help keep customers moving when the improvements are delivered, and we’ll have a rail replacement transport plan in place to ensure customers can continue to travel with confidence.

“Customers are asked to plan ahead and check their journey before they travel, and we thank our customers for their patience and understanding while the project is delivered.”

More information is available on the Scotland’s Railway website: https://scotlandsrailway.com/projects/fife-electrification.