Stirling Alloa Kincardine
Welcome to scot-rail.co.uk, Scotland's online railway community. The group is for any rail enthusiast interested in the railways and trains of Scotland. It not only consists of the wiki that you're reading now, but a busy online forum and mailing list, which is accessible to anyone who registers. If you would like to join in, all you have to do is register with us for free.
Breadcrumb navigation
The Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine Railway project (SAK) re-opened approximately 21 km of existing, disused and abandoned railway lines between Stirling Station and Longannet Power station in Kincardine.
As part of the project, a new station was constructed in Alloa town centre and an hourly passenger service was introduced between Alloa, Stirling and Glasgow Queen Street.
Freight trains delivering coal to Longannet Power Station, now use the route - freeing up capacity on the busy Forth Bridge and improving the operation of the main Edinburgh - Glasgow line. The capacity released on the Forth Bridge can be used for additional services from Fife to Edinburgh.
The construction work was appointed to a joint venture between two of the UK’s leading construction firms – First Engineering and Edmund Nuttall Ltd, with site supervision provided by Jacobs Babtie.
A new Alloa Eastern Link Road was built ahead of the line reopening, to take traffic away from Alloa town centre and to allow Hilton Road to be closed to through traffic.
Track laying began in September 2006
Construction work was due to be completed by Summer 2007, but continued into 2008 with the delay blamed on changes required at level crossings.
A new control panel in Stirling Middle signal box controls the route, with signals prefixes SK. The panel features three CCTV screens to oversee the operation of level crossings at Cambus, Waterside and Blackgrange.
The route was commissoned on Tuesday 25th March 2008 after an engineering blockade at Stirling over Easter.
Signalling:SAK Railway
On Saturday 5th April, DB Schenker ran their first train over the SAK, 66083 hauling 21 'HTA' bogie hoppers loaded with coal on 6G18 1300 Hunterston - Longannet.
The official re-opening of the line was carried out on Thursday 15th May with a special train top and tailed with Steam loco 61994 and Deltic 55022.
Scheduled passenger train services started on Monday 19/05/08 with 170475 on 06:11 Alloa - Glasgow Queen St.
Addition capacity was required between on the line between Larbert and Stirling before all Longannet coal trains could be diverted off the Forth Bridge route. This was provided by resignalling the line and closing Plean signal box (30th June).
Full re-routing of Longannet coal trains via Alloa commenced at the end of September 2008.
External Links:
As part of the project, a new station was constructed in Alloa town centre and an hourly passenger service was introduced between Alloa, Stirling and Glasgow Queen Street.
Freight trains delivering coal to Longannet Power Station, now use the route - freeing up capacity on the busy Forth Bridge and improving the operation of the main Edinburgh - Glasgow line. The capacity released on the Forth Bridge can be used for additional services from Fife to Edinburgh.
Construction
The project was being managed by tie limited, under contract to Clackmannanshire Council. Transport Scotland took over in Summer 2007.The construction work was appointed to a joint venture between two of the UK’s leading construction firms – First Engineering and Edmund Nuttall Ltd, with site supervision provided by Jacobs Babtie.
A new Alloa Eastern Link Road was built ahead of the line reopening, to take traffic away from Alloa town centre and to allow Hilton Road to be closed to through traffic.
Track laying began in September 2006
Construction work was due to be completed by Summer 2007, but continued into 2008 with the delay blamed on changes required at level crossings.
A new control panel in Stirling Middle signal box controls the route, with signals prefixes SK. The panel features three CCTV screens to oversee the operation of level crossings at Cambus, Waterside and Blackgrange.
The route was commissoned on Tuesday 25th March 2008 after an engineering blockade at Stirling over Easter.
Signalling:SAK Railway
Trains Start Running
Driver training commenced on Wednesday 2nd April with 158721 making 9 return trips between Stirling and Alloa.On Saturday 5th April, DB Schenker ran their first train over the SAK, 66083 hauling 21 'HTA' bogie hoppers loaded with coal on 6G18 1300 Hunterston - Longannet.
The official re-opening of the line was carried out on Thursday 15th May with a special train top and tailed with Steam loco 61994 and Deltic 55022.
Scheduled passenger train services started on Monday 19/05/08 with 170475 on 06:11 Alloa - Glasgow Queen St.
Addition capacity was required between on the line between Larbert and Stirling before all Longannet coal trains could be diverted off the Forth Bridge route. This was provided by resignalling the line and closing Plean signal box (30th June).
Full re-routing of Longannet coal trains via Alloa commenced at the end of September 2008.
External Links: