This weekend: Work to electrify railway between Haymarket-Dalmeny: Overhead-line-engineers

Thursday 15 Jan 2026

This weekend: Work to electrify railway between Haymarket-Dalmeny

Region & Route:
Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Nine days of major engineering work begins this weekend to prepare the railway in Fife and connecting routes for future electrification. 

The line will close between Haymarket and Dalmeny between 17-25 January and undergo significant infrastructure changes.  

Several bridges will be rebuilt and sections of track lowered to create space for overhead power lines. The upgrades are essential for installing the electrical equipment that will allow new battery-electric trains to run.  

The project is part of a £342m investment from the Scottish Government to electrify the Fife and Borders lines, helping to deliver a more sustainable railway for Scotland.  

Switching from diesel to electric aims to cut emissions, reduce noise for communities along the route, and deliver cleaner, quieter journeys that make rail a more appealing choice for travel. 

Catherine Hall, strategy and investment director at Network Rail Scotland said: “Over nine days, our teams will carry out complex engineering work at multiple sites to get the route ready for future electrification. Bridge reconstructions, track alterations and systems changes have all been carefully planned to make sure the line can support the next generation of trains. 

“A modern railway connects people to jobs, education and essential services, and underpins local economies. Investing now ensures the network can meet future demand and makes sustainable travel a practical choice for more journeys. 

“We know the route to and from Fife is one of the busiest in Scotland and there's never an ideal time to close it. We really appreciate the patience of passengers and local residents while these major improvements take place.” 

To allow the upgrades to take place efficiently and safely, the line between Haymarket and Dalmeny will be closed from the end of service on Friday 16 January until the start of service on Monday 26 January.  

Passengers are advised to check their journey before travelling. Alternative travel arrangements will be in place during the closure, and full details are available here.  

More information about the wider Fife electrification project can be found at https://www.scotlandsrailway.com/projects/fife-electrification

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