http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "Breich earmarked for first Scottish station closure in 31 years" en Wed, 13 May 2026 01:58:17 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851&page=2#post-266755 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:08:35 +0000 Ed1 266755@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There may be many stops that make a loss in terms of added fuel cost not offset by customers usage. It may be more of a quasi-political decision than an economic one which to close. I get the Shotts line fairly often at night its normal for the train to stop at many stations and no one to get on or off.<br /> It may well be a non-zero cost in cash terms it would use more fuel but it may or may not make overall journey times start of track to end longer. (some journeys would be, but some may be less when made time if was same bottle necks). Train sometimes has to wait before Waverley and give way to long distance trains at times by Kirknewton. train seems to dawdle sometimes I guess to wait for another section to clear. The extra time of stopping may be could come out dawdle time. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851&page=2#post-266754 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:00:49 +0000 jonty 266754@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Ed1: the fact the stops have been removed (until now) suggests there is probably a non-zero cost to stopping does it not? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851&page=2#post-266751 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 15:53:16 +0000 Klaxon 266751@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_train" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_train</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851&page=2#post-266750 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 15:50:36 +0000 AKen 266750@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Services to Barry Links and Golf Street are deliberately time-tabled to discourage people from using them - one train a day to Dundee, leaving at 6am, with a return at 7pm.</p> <p>If there were trains running at times people actually might want to travel they'd have many more passengers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851&page=2#post-266749 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 15:50:00 +0000 Stickman 266749@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Carnoustie also has Barry Links (~70 pax per annum) and Golf Street (~170 pax per annum) stations for no real justifiable reason.</em></p> <p>Do they get used once a decade when the Open is there? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851&page=2#post-266748 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 15:47:08 +0000 Ed1 266748@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As you can’t go to Glasgow and back on the same day from Breich the low passenger number is hardly a surprise. You can only travel in the Edinburgh direction and then back not in the Glasgow direction. If it stopped even 4 times a day twice in each direction then numbers may be higher.</p> <p>Not sure it would have to lead to longer journey times, it would depend what the constraints are, the other bottlenecks possibly, as the train may be able to make time by going fast to allow for the stop there would be higher fuel costs irrespectively </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851&page=2#post-266742 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:59:45 +0000 kaputnik 266742@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I wonder how many of the consultation respondents have ever been to the station?</em></p> <p>Indeed! I assume the 2017 passengers will be "through the roof", with literally tens of people a week turning up for their change to see the glories of Briech station (but not distant Briech) before it closed.</p> <p>Realistically it probably should be given a chance, i.e. improve facilities and services for the short-to-mid term and if it still only gets 3 people a week in a few years time then try and close it again.</p> <p>But it can get silly. Carnoustie also has Barry Links (~70 pax per annum) and Golf Street (~170 pax per annum) stations for no real justifiable reason. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851&page=2#post-266741 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:56:28 +0000 Klaxon 266741@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not sure why a bridge is necessary when a ramp in the style of <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.1621705,-3.1441061,3a,60y,72.24h,81.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sN0PPH2qPcH9rmEChvAYbCw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">Glenrothes with Thornton</a> could be built on the north side of the road bridge</p> <p>Possibly to drive up the cost to justify closure. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-266740 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:49:29 +0000 jonty 266740@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is this a good thing? </p> <p>If it leads to more people using the train, I suppose so.</p> <p>If it leads to higher journey times for others with passenger numbers staying steady, not so much.</p> <p>I wonder how many of the consultation respondents have ever been to the station?</p> <p>If passenger numbers don't go up in 5 years, will they reconsider? Perhaps it be irrelevant, given that the bridge will already have been built. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-266735 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:34:25 +0000 chdot 266735@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well not really surprising not many passengers, seems to be only one train per day (to Edinburgh) and one back.</p> <p><a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/BRC/2017/11/16/0000-2359?stp=WVS&amp;show=pax-calls&amp;order=wtt" rel="nofollow">http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/BRC/2017/11/16/0000-2359?stp=WVS&amp;show=pax-calls&amp;order=wtt</a> </p> <p>Plenty not stopping.</p> <p><a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/BRC/2017/11/16/0000-2359?stp=WVS&amp;show=all&amp;order=wtt&amp;toc=SR" rel="nofollow">http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/BRC/2017/11/16/0000-2359?stp=WVS&amp;show=all&amp;order=wtt&amp;toc=SR</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-266734 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:29:29 +0000 crowriver 266734@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Maybe an overreaction in the opposite direction to the 1960s/70s mass closure of entire lines, stations, etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-266732 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:25:23 +0000 Klaxon 266732@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's <em>really</em> hard to close a station </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-266728 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:13:29 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 266728@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"A station with three passengers is saved from closure"</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-42011593" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-42011593</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-261593 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 18:11:54 +0000 chdot 261593@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/time-running-out-to-save-west-lothian-train-station-1-4568501" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/time-running-out-to-save-west-lothian-train-station-1-4568501</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-255958 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:28:40 +0000 chdot 255958@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Transform Scotland has prepared a briefing paper in response to the Network Rail proposals for closure of Breich Station in West Lothian.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://transformscotland.org.uk/blog/2017/07/26/electrification-of-shotts-line-presents-opportunities-to-transform-the-route/" rel="nofollow">http://transformscotland.org.uk/blog/2017/07/26/electrification-of-shotts-line-presents-opportunities-to-transform-the-route/</a></p> <p>"</p> <p>The Shotts Line and Breich Station – Options and Opportunities Transform Scotland briefing 25 July 2017</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://transformscotland.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shotts-Line-and-Breich-Station-Transform-Scotland-briefing-2017-07-25.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://transformscotland.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shotts-Line-and-Breich-Station-Transform-Scotland-briefing-2017-07-25.pdf</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-254237 Sat, 01 Jul 2017 18:40:10 +0000 Ed1 254237@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>After waiting 35 minutes scotrail cancel the train at breich 5 minutes before it's meant to arrive </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253466 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 22:39:16 +0000 Ed1 253466@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I see in google kirknewton crossing is notorious, people killed in cars, woman losing all limbs when hit by train, pedestrian killed and people being hit by the barrier. It does seems silly that there is no bridge. I suppose they should build a bridge or cap the train speed at 20 mph to make it easier to notice. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253451 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 18:41:48 +0000 gembo 253451@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sometimes wheel my bike across the line on to old newmills road, a great sledging hill ending in the railway. Bit like arellcat's haggerston one but only two tracks and a train once or twice an hour (this is the one Dave mentions as further out)</p> <p>Breich does sound an unlikely place to have a station though I think I knew of a boy who lived there and came on the train with his bike and cycled up from curriehill</p> <p>Fauldhouse station has a very big driveway. It is at the north lanark end of fauldhouse so breich might be nearer addiewell station?</p> <p>Someone died at the level crossing in kirknewton when they trapped the heel of their shoe in the line. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253450 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 17:41:38 +0000 Ed1 253450@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>kirknewton has no bridge near the station, although this does seem silly as many stations with far less passengers have a bridge </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253445 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 15:46:50 +0000 Mandopicker101 253445@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Barrhill (South Ayrshire) also lacks a footbridge - passengers just walk across the line to reach the other side using a sort of level crossing. </p> <p>It's on the Glasgow - Stranraer line and has a positively bustling six stops by services going each way. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253438 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 13:37:13 +0000 Arellcat 253438@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's a gated LC east of Haggerston, near Berwick-upon-Tweed, that crosses the ECML.</p> <p>'Gated', in the sense of opening the first gate, running across the main line to open the second gate, running back to your vehicle, driving across the main line, running back across to close the first gate, then running back across to close the second gate, each time STOPping, LOOKing and LISTENing to ensure the line is clear.</p> <p>I think the crossing has a siren, and is signed as not for use by members of the public, though I presume the nearby farmer uses it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253437 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 13:35:59 +0000 steveo 253437@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Blair Atholl has a footbridge</em><br /> <em><br /> Blair Athol's level crossing is the offical non stair crossing.</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253436 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 13:18:10 +0000 urchaidh 253436@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I spent a holiday in a cottage in Dalwhinnie. Vehicular access was a track which crossed the railway by way of a gated level crossing - you had to call the signalman from the track-side phone before crossing and again once safely across - the novelty had definitely worn off by the end of the week.</p> <p>Looking at the map it may now be gone, with a new track into the house from the north. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253433 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 12:58:35 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 253433@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Achnashellach has a LC but only one platform.</p> <p>Strathcarron has 2 lines/platforms and a FB with a road LC at the end of the platforms. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253432 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 12:40:31 +0000 neddie 253432@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Arriving in the remote Lairg station with a fully laden bike, I was the only one to leave the train, the guard gestured firmly toward the footbridge as the way out.</p> <p>Not happy about de-luggaging the entire bike and lifting things over separately, I hesitated for a moment, contemplating crossing the track after the train was out of sight (no one else was at the station).</p> <p>The "good boy" won in the end and I lifted the whole bike, luggage and all, over the footbridge. Pretty sure that was an order of magnitude above manual handling limits. Plus the risk of dropping the whole thing down the stairs... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253430 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 11:57:14 +0000 cb 253430@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>lower Tyndrum</p> <p>Blair Athol</p> <p>Not sure but the above stations I know have non bridge crossings, Blair Athol's level crossing is the offical non stair crossing. </em>"</p> <p>Those level crossings are not really for station users to cross the track though (Lower Tyndrum only has one track so no need to cross and Blair Atholl has a footbridge - although wheelchair users might be expected to go round by the road?)</p> <p>Kingsknowe in Edinburgh does use the road and level crossing for getting to the other platform however. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253427 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 11:08:10 +0000 jonty 253427@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Unlike roads authorities, Network Rail aim for zero casualties on their network and so are gradually removing every level crossing they can. They wouldn't ignore this to build another one for a dead station like Briech. I'm not 100% sure whether they're actually considered accessible, either. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253421 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 10:19:14 +0000 AKen 253421@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have used the Shotts line for years to travel to meetings in Glasgow. I have never ever seen anyone get on or off at Breich. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253416 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 10:06:56 +0000 Klaxon 253416@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Briech is a dead station that doesn't even serve the two dozen houses a kilometre away.</p> <p>If you live in Briech, you <strong>need</strong> a car. There's no shops. You probably already drive to Fauldhouse to go to the shops. Even if you get the train regularly, you probably don't use Briech station as there is no parking there.</p> <p>I hope this closure passes uneventfully, everyone gets a better service when stops like this go away. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17851#post-253415 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 10:04:39 +0000 acsimpson 253415@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>West Calder is apparently getting a new footbridge with lifts. Perhaps they have taken the cost of that. I can't imagine even a EA compliant bridge would come in at more than a few 100K. </p>