WORK to lay foundations that will pave the way for the electrification of the Fife Circle is getting underway. In the first phase of a project which will cost £55m, Network Rail will begin to pile the foundations for the masts to carry the overhead wires between Haymarket and Dalmeny, just south of the Forth Bridge.
The aim is to have 25 Single Track Kilometres (STKs) electrified by December 2024 as part of Scotland’s aim to decarbonise its network by 2035.
Further phases of work will see the partial electrification of lines in Fife totalling a further 104 STKs, with the aim of introducing battery electric multiple units to replace life-expired DMUs which will be phased out.
Partial electrification provides a reduction in infrastructure and associated capital expenditure costs but makes projects more affordable, and enables electrification of key trunk routes to start as a priority so the benefits of an electrified railway will be realised earlier. Additionally, it does not preclude full electrification occurring at a future date.
A procurement competition to identify a preferred manufacturer and financier for new trains to operate decarbonised services on the routes covered by East Kilbride, Fife and Borders routes, has been approved. This new rolling stock order will replace 42 Class 156s DMUs, 21 Class 318s and 34 Class 320
