Kincardine Line

Kincardine Line

Stations (west to east) Alloa due to reopen 2007 Clackmannan (South) Kilbagie Kincardine Culross Valleyfield Torryburn Charlestown Cairneyhill Dunfermline (Lower) still open

The Kincardine Line was a railway in Clackmannanshire and Fife, Scotland connecting the stations in Alloa and near Dunfermline along the north shore of the Firth of Forth. From Charlestown Junction a short branch line to Charlestown on the shore of the Forth ran. This branch line had been part of the Charlestown Railway. It was part of the North British Railway

Opening

The section between Kincardine and Kincardine Junction on the Stirling and Dunfermline Railway was opened in 1893, with the line between Kincardine and Dunfermline opening in 1906.

Charlestown Branch

The Charlestown Branch started life as the Elgin Waggonway in 1792, later becoming the Charlestown Railway. The North British Railway bought the line and the harbour at the end of the line in 1863, although three years later it was partly abandoned. In 1894 the line was rebuilt and re-opened.

Closure

The Charlestown Branch closed to passengers on 1 November 1926, remaining opening to serve Crombie RNAD Siding until 1964.

Passenger services were withdrawn between Alloa and Dunfermline in 1930, although the line remained open for coal trains. Coal trains to Kincardine and Longannet Power Stations continued to use the line. The line to the west of Kincardine became derelict.

Re-opening

Under Scottish Executive funding and to relieve congestion on the Forth Railway Bridge the line between Stirling and Alloa is being reopened to passenger traffic, and the line to Kincardine is to be rebuilt for coal traffic to Longannet. Construction work started in 2005, with tracklaying commencing at the end of September 2006. It is projected that the line will reopen to traffic in the Summer 2007. There are plans that eventually, the whole line will be reopened from Dunfermline.

Connections to other Railways

• Stirling and Dunfermline Railway at Kincardine Junction east of Alloa
• Dunfermline and Queensferry Railway at Charlestown Branch Junction south of Dunfermline (Lower)