Back on track
Is there a good case for a station?
We believe there are strong social and commercial reasons for reconnecting Newburgh to the railway
Easier Health Visits
For many people who do not have access to a car, getting to health centres across Fife and beyond can be very demanding. Journeys times can be long, often with the need of one or two changes to get to a destination. A mild inconvenience for most, a barrier to health for some. Access to health services is a right. Is the current buses service adequate for those with mobility issues?
Attracting Investment
Newburgh has all the potential to become prosperous again – a net contributor to Scotland’s economy. It is a good place to live and could be a great place to work. But without reliable public transport, businesses will not be drawn to the town. Buses do not cut it, it seems. To get businesses to come, Newburgh needs to be fully connected to the rest of Scotland and for this it needs a rail station.
More Job Opportunities
Without a car, the job horizon shrinks. Poor public transport limits ambitions to find better work further afield. Travel times and lack of connection precludes taking work in many Scottish job hot spots. This lack of opportunity drives many to leave Newburgh to find work elsewhere. A regular train service would be a game-changer. Faster journeys to points further away would open up a world of opportunity for the town.
Better Access to Education
Relying on the bus to take advantage of educational opportunities in Fife can be difficult. Daily travel to colleges further afield proves harder still. And even attending night courses in some nearby towns can be a problem. Full education and training opportunities is a right. A train service will put in reach a host of universities, colleges and further education across much of central Scotland.
Being better connected
A train station sets possibilities of easy travel. A night out in Edinburgh doesn’t start with a drive to Ladybank station. A train stop in Newburgh makes the start of a journey one that has no need of a car at all. A station gives easy access to entertainment, to museums, connections to family and friends. Newburgh can feel like a 100 miles from anywhere sometimes. A station will provide the means to fully connect to the life of Scotland.
Healthier Environment
A new Active Travel Route with soon connect Newburgh with the National Cycle Network. It will provide a green, healthy and safe way to travel. But without adequate public transport, the number of vehicles on the town’s main road will continue to grow. A new train station will encourage many car drivers to leave their vehicles at home. Less cars, less pollution – a state of play the Government will surely be looking to encourage.
Newburgh can prosper
Developing Tourism
Tourism could flourish in Newburgh. It has history, it is a place with quirky traditions and is set in beautiful surrounds on the banks of the River Tay. but it does not want all visitors to come by car.
Birdlife is abundant, with ospreys nesting in local woods
Its origins date back to the 12th century and the founding of Lindores Abbey. At one time, Newburgh's extensive orchards made it the fruit town of Scotland; it once had thriving industries and a busy harbour.
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​​​​Visitors to the town today see it as an attractive place. But they will mostly have come by car. Newburgh is the final point on the increasingly popular Fife Coastal Path. However, it doesn't serve walkers well at weekends where buses are few and taxis rare. If we are to develop the potential of tourism in Newburgh, we need a train station. Few use the bus and, in line with the Government's strategy for cleaner transport, we do not want all visitors to come by car.
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Newburgh, with its beautiful surrounds, is the perfect place to develop ecotourism.
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Newburgh community orchard continuing ancient traditions
Lindores Abbey distillery
The annual parade of Newburgh Caledonian Lodge of Oddfellows
The community-owned Loch Mill
The annual burning of the Bear
Newburgh with its 'wonky' Christmas lights
Don't build a station
Assemble it cheaply instead!
The UK rail industry is increasingly adopting cost-effective, easy-to-assemble modular design techniques for new infrastructure projects across the network. This modern, adaptable construction method is very suited to building inexpensive, smaller stations.
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The benefits of modular design
Modular stations are -
Cheap - a single short-length platform with costs could amount to as little as £200K.
Easy to build - modular design assembles pre-built components in situ rather than constructing a station from scratch. It does not need an expensive team of specialist staff to do so.
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Sustainable - transporting pre-built modular components, delivered to site by road, requires less transport than shipping traditional construction materials. It is a greener and far more sustainable way of achieving what we want.
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Flexible - a modular station can be put in place cheaply and easily to 'test' the viability of a station. If it works, it can be made permanent,. If not, then it can be taken away and used elsewhere!
​We believe modular solutions are the right option for building a new Newburgh station.​​
Beauly Station - how a simple Newburgh station could look
Beauly Station - a modular station
Conan Bridge - a short platform success
Beauly station reopened in 2002. This single platform station with a shelter and car park was built for just £250,000 (approx £460,000 today*). The reopened station saw 75% of local commuters switching from road to rail. Beauly is proof that low-cost stations can provide benefits far exceeding their costs. ​​​​​​​​​
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In early 2013, the £600,000 (approx £823,000* today) Conan Bridge station opened.. In the months following, more than 2,000 journeys were made to or from it. Former Minister for Transport Keith Brown said the numbers 'show that it was an extremely worthwhile investment'.
*Bank of England Inflation calculator
The future of Newburgh - with a station
September 2024
Lindores Abbey Distillery played host to a successful workshop run by Fife Council, SEStran and the Newburgh rail campaign which considered the business potential of Newburgh with a train station.
Where things stand
December 2024
STAG appraisal submitted
The final part of the transport appraisal (STAG) has been submitted to Transport Scotland for review and comment. We expect to hear back sometime near March 2025.
STAG report
Appendix A
January 2025
Transform Scotland welcomes the NTRG as a new member
The Newburgh Train Station Group has just been accepted as a member of Transform Scotland, Scotland’s alliance for sustainable transport. Members include Scotrail, LNER, Stagecoach and other rail campaign groups. We look forward to networking with travel sector professionals and others campaigners wanting to return sustainable railway travel to their communities.
How did we get here?
The appraisal submitted at the end of 2024 is the culmination of many years' work. The Campaign first stood up in 2011 and has been campaigning since.​​​​
A drawing competition for pupils from Dunbog,
Newburgh and Abernethy primary schools asked for
ideas about reopening Newburgh station. The results were simply great.
Why not leave a message telling us what you think about your public transport and what having a train station means to you.
The town of Newburgh
Newburgh sits on the banks of the River Tay in beautiful North-East Fife. Despite being just 42 miles north of Edinburgh and visible from both Perth and Dundee across the water, it feels quite remote. It is the home of whisky and was once known as the fruit town of Scotland.
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Our campaign is powered by people
From past surveys and turnouts at campaign meetings, it is clear that there is a keen appetite for reopening a rail station.
Last year, over 80 people from Newburgh, nearby Abernethy and surrounding areas attended a campaign meeting at Lindores Distillery. The campaign has been gathering pace ever since.
The Scottish Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop acknowledged strong community support for a reopened Newburgh station.
The voices of Newburgh
Newburgh is behind a new station. Here is a cross-section of local opinions on current public transport and the possible reopening of a station
