Previous stuff
02/2017
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The Powderhall railway branch line from Piershill is only used by refuse trains, so permanent closure of the plant leaves the track bed available for conversion to a multi-use/cycle path, subject to negotiations between CEC and Network Rail (NR). For cyclists and walkers this raises the exciting prospect of a traffic-free link south-eastwards from the extensive North Edinburgh path network. From Warriston allotments the new route, with intermediate access points, would go under Broughton Road, Leith Walk and Easter Road to Lochend Park. From there it’s only a short distance to the semi-tropical delights of Holyrood Park and beyond. The future of the Lochend–Piershill section of the line is unclear. A huge new development is planned for the eastern part of the Meadowbank site and, ideally, the new path would connect there. Although NR seems currently to favour retaining the option of a future Abbeyhill–Piershill loop line, this does not necessarily exclude a path link as well.—Tim Smith
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https://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/sites/default/files/backissues/Spurtle%20259%20Final.pdf
12/2017
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Cllr Susan Rae (Leith Walk) has received confirmation that the former Powderhall railway line remains safeguarded as a cycleway footpath in the Edinburgh Local Development Plan, and is a proposed QuietRoute within CEC’s 2016 Active Travel Plan. Proposals will be brought forward alongside development of the sites at Powderhall and Meadowbank, and Planning Convener Lesley Macinnes is already seeking talks with Network Rail.
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https://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/sites/default/files/backissues/Spurtle%20269%20Draft%202%20Hi%20Res.pdf
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SLOW PROGRESS ON POWDERHALL RAILWAY PATH
Submitted by Editor on Thu, 06/12/2018 - 11:32
The Powderhall Railway Path Working Group met Leith Central Community Council’s Vice Chair and CEC officials from Active Travel and Housing yesterday.
PRPWG comprises local residents keen to create a useful new East–West footway/cycle route on redundant track between Powderhall and Meadowbank. The meeting was to discuss next steps.
The line is owned by Network Rail, and DB Cargo UK has a contract to operate freight services on it until 2019, even though Powderhall has closed as a waste transfer station.
At yesterday’s meeting, officials agreed to undertake a scoping study. This will examine issues around surveying the route, land ownership, and the DB Cargo contract.
PRPWG hopes to get Network Rail to agree in principle to parting with the line. With such an agreement in place, an approach could then be made to Sustrans for funding a feasibility study.
Progress is slow, and obstacles ahead include: Network Rail’s potential wish to run trains on the Abbeyhill Loop; concerns on all sides not to get lumbered with very expensive repairs to bridges and embankments; unresolved questions about access and ownership along parts of the proposed route and at the far end of St Mark’s Park.
Interested parties will meet again in February, before officials report to the Council’s North East Localities Committee in March.
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https://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/slow-progress-powderhall-railway-path