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Monday 23 Jul 2007

PASSENGER REMINDER: INVERKEITHING JUNCTION RAIL WORKS

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Rail services through Fife will operate to a revised timetable between Monday 23 July and Sunday 29 July while major upgrade works take place at Inverkeithing Junction. The track work is part of a GBP 4million investment in Fife's rail infrastructure and will include a complete renewal of a major set of points and improvements to track geometry. Network Rail will also carry out work in the North Queensferry tunnel to improve drainage. The activity will require a seven-day suspension of passenger services through Inverkeithing station and across the Forth Bridge between Monday 23 July and Sunday 29 July, with normal services resuming on Monday 30 July. Fife Circle services will continue to operate to a revised timetable but with journeys to and from Edinburgh replaced in part by bus services. David Simpson, Network Rail route director commented: "This investment at Inverkeithing junction is essential to accommodate the predicted growth in demand for rail transport in Fife. Network Rail is ambitious to grow the railway in Scotland and this work will enhance performance for both passenger and freight trains. "There is a huge amount of work involved in this upgrade and it will mean disruption to train services but we have done everything possible to reduce the inconvenience to passengers. We have worked closely with First ScotRail, GNER and Virgin Trains and Fife Council to plan the work and arrange replacement bus services between Fife and Edinburgh. "Because our priority is to keep disruption to an absolute minimum, the works have been timed to coincide with the Fife trade holidays and the two week-long summer shutdown of Longannet Power Station, when demand for passenger and freight services on the line is dramatically reduced." Steve Montgomery, First ScotRail's Operations and Safety Director, said: "These works will involve a high number of replacement buses, and it will be a major exercise to manage passengers to and from these services. "We are confident that the planning of travel alterations will keep inconvenience to a minimum. Clearly, some journeys will take longer than normal and passengers should allow more time for travel." Full details of the revised train timetable and replacement bus services are now available on the First ScotRail website http://www.firstscotrail.com. Revised timetable booklets are available at manned stations. Alterations to First ScotRail services include: Monday 23 July – Friday 27 July

• Edinburgh – Dundee - Aberdeen services will be retimed and diverted via Stirling and Perth
• Edinburgh – Perth - Inverness services will run between Inverness and Perth only, with connecting replacement bus services between Edinburgh and Perth (except the 1936 from Edinburgh, which will run throughout but is retimed to depart earlier at 1922)
• Replacement connecting bus services will operate between Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldy and Perth
• All Edinburgh - Fife Circle / Perth / Dundee services will be withdrawn and replaced by a completely revised timetable serving stations between Edinburgh and Fife including Markinch to Dundee

• A replacement bus service will operate between Dalgety Bay and Dalmeny to connect with onward train services
• During morning peak times a direct bus service will also operate between Dalgety Bay and Haymarket / Edinburgh & Inverkeithing and Haymarket / Edinburgh
• During evening peak times a direct bus service will also operate between Edinburgh / Haymarket, Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay
• A shuttle bus service will also operate between Inverkeithing and North Queensferry

Saturday 28 July and Sunday 29 July

• Edinburgh – Dundee - Aberdeen services will be retimed and diverted via Stirling and Perth
• Edinburgh – Perth - Inverness services will be retimed and diverted via Stirling
• Replacement connecting bus services will operate between Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldy and Perth
• All Edinburgh - Fife Circle / Perth / Dundee services are withdrawn and replaced by a completely revised timetable serving stations between Edinburgh and Fife including Markinch to Dundee
• A replacement bus service will operate between Dalgety Bay and Edinburgh to connect with onward train services, calling at Inverkeithing, Dalmeny and Haymarket
• A connecting bus shuttle will operate to/from South Gyle at regular intervals connecting with services at Haymarket and Dalmeny
• Express buses will also be provided calling at Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay and Haymarket only
• A shuttle bus service will also operate between Inverkeithing and North Queensferry
• On Saturday 28 July Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High service will be reduced to half hourly throughout the day.

GNER and Virgin Cross-country services north of Edinburgh will also be affected throughout the week. Passengers who normally interchange between train and local bus services at Inverkeithing Station, including users of the Edinburgh Airport bus and Rosyth Ferry Terminal bus, should use the rail replacement shuttle buses between Dalgety Bay Station and Inverkeithing Station to make their connection at Inverkeithing Station as normal. Journeys will take longer than normal. Revised timings for all these services are contained in the booklet, including details of connecting bus services. You can also check your times before travelling at staffed stations, or by phoning the National Rail Enquiry Service on 08457 48 49 50. We regret that heavy luggage, cycles, wheelchairs and large prams cannot be carried on replacement buses. Wheelchair users needing help with their journey should contact 0800 912 2 901 in advance for information. We apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause.