A new Station coming soon?
Decision time on our long overdue station
The Scottish Autumn Budget Revision (ABR) is expected this September and a new station in Newburgh might be considered.
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Government officials have had the business case since December 2024 - a long time for what is (or should be) a modest rail project.
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New stations bring revival and opportunity to what were once neglected communities. So come on Stephen, Newburgh wants to grow and contribute to the Scottish economy. Time for a station!
Stephen Flynn - Transport Secretary
The dire state of transport in Newburgh
Public transport is pretty dreadful. Like many parts of Fife, Newburgh's bus service is dependent on commercial decisions made by the bus operators. Stagecoach have pulled services from the town because they were not, 'economically viable'. No consideration of their social value.
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SUNK
The proposed river taxi
STALLED
An Active Travel Path to Newburgh
AXED
Evening buses to to and from Perth
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To our Constituency MSP Willie Rennie who has just been appointed the new Convenor of the Governments Transport Committee.
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Better transport will ensue.
Congratulations!
...our modest High Street is becoming clogged
Newburgh High Street is getting busier every year. Car numbers continue to rise, as do the alarming number of heavy vehicles passing down the town's modest A road.
Local business star Breedon continues to mine the local quarry, dispatching the stone and concrete at all hours of the day. But they do throw a few pennies to the natives now and then. That should do it.
Healthier Environment
A new Active Travel Route may one day connect Newburgh to the National Cycle Network providing a safer, greener, healthy 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 more car drivers to leave their vehicles at home. Fewer cars, less pollution – a state of play the Government will surely encourage.
Attracting Business
Newburgh has all the potential to become prosperous again – a net contributor to Scotland’s economy. It is a vibrant place to live and could be an attractive place to work. Tourism has real potential to flourish. But without reliable public transport, businesses will not be drawn to the town. Buses do not provide the connection, it seems. To attract inward investment Newburgh needs to be fully connected to the rest of Scotland and for this, it needs a rail station.
Easier Health Visits
For with no car, getting to health centres across Fife and beyond can be very demanding. Journeys times can be long, often with the need for one or two changes to reach a destination. An inconvenience for most, a barrier to health for some. Easy access to health services is a right.
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 rules out taking work in many Scottish job hot-spots driving many to leave Newburgh to find work elsewhere. A train service would be a game-changer. Faster journeys to points further away would open up a world of opportunity.
Access to Education
Don't rely on the bus to get to college in Fife! Travel to education beyond Fife can be harder still. Even attending night courses in nearby towns can be a problem! Access to education and training opportunities is a right. A train service will put in reach more apprenticeships, universities, and colleges across Scotland.
Being better connected
Travelling by train gives easy access to culture and connections to family and friends. Newburgh can feel like a 100 miles from anywhere sometimes. A station will allow the people of Newburgh to fully connect to the life of Scotland - and for the people of Scotland to more readily visit the town!
Don't build a station...keep it cheap and assemble it instead!
The UK rail industry has adopted cost-effective, easy-to-assemble modular design techniques for upgrading or building new stations. It offers many benefits over traditional construction methods. It is very suited for building smaller stations...like Newburgh ​
The benefits of modular design
Cheap - a single short-length platform between 10 and 15 metres in length can cost less than £300K.
Easy to build - modular design assembles pre-built components (or modules) in situ rather than constructing a station from scratch. No specialist skills are needed.
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Reduced carbon emission - delivery of pre-built, light-weight components, by road, requires far less transport than traditional builds.
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Sustainable - Some newer modular platforms now use recycled material including wind turbines! Not using concrete is a far greener way of building a station.
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Flexible - a modular station can be put in place cheaply and easily. It can be lengthened to meet increased passenger demand or removed if there is none.​​
Newburgh only needs a small station. We propose a simple, short modular halt. It is a sustainable travel solution PROPORTIONATE to our needs - It does not need to be a full-length, fully featured, £20m + station!
Beauly Station
A small halt with big commuter appeal
Beauly Station on the Far North Line
Beauly station reopened in 2002. This short, single platform station with a shelter and small car park was built for just £460,000*. The station saw 75% of local commuters switching from road to rail. Beauly station is proof that low-cost stations can provide benefits far exceeding their size. ​​​​​​​​​​
Conon Bridge
Became a big hit with travellers
Conon Bridge station, west of Inverness
In 2013, a new station costing just £600,000* was opened at Conon Bridge near Inverness. In the months that followed, more than 2,000 journeys were made to and from it. The then Transport Minister Keith Brown said the numbers showed that the station was an extremely worthwhile investment'.
* Bank of England Inflation calculator
.Small stations with BIG impact.
The people of Newburgh want their station reopened. Most use their cars to get to work, to visit friends, to shop - many drive to the nearest station to catch a train! And for those without a car, getting around can be hard...
For the 20% of residents who rely on buses, travelling can be a slog. Wait times can be long – made longer by too many cancelled buses. Access to health and education beyond the town, particularly for those with limited mobility, is often difficult.
Opportunities to develop business are limited without a station. Why set up in Newburgh when there are other nearby towns connected to rail?​​​​​​
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Inbound train to (and through), Newburgh and on to Perth.
With a station, new business can flourish in Newburgh
​It could be a great town for new businesses, particularly tourism. Newburgh has all the potential to become a more prosperous place, actively contributing to the Scottish economy.​​
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Newburgh has a lot of potential to develop
There is serious interest in restarted the river taxi between Perth, Dundee and Newburgh. An Active Travel Path will be coming to Newburgh soon. This town has the potential to offer great tourist experiences in the surrounding hills, on the river Tay and in Newburgh itself.
In December 2024, the NTS Campaign, together with South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStrans) and Fife Council, submitted a business case to Transport Scotland. It has now been with Transport Scotland for over a year. ​
Sound reasons for being better connected
Newburgh's business potential
In September 2024, a workshop was run by Fife Council, SEStran and the NTSC to consider how a station in Newburgh might generate business opportunities in the town.
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The workshop was a response to Transport Scotland's request for further information about the town's business potential.
The workshop identified many opportunities for growth and together these ideas formed part the submitted business case, currently being appraised by Transport Scotland.​
Newburgh tourist potential
Eco Business could flourish in Newburgh. It is a town with history, quirky traditions and set in beautiful countryside. but, development, is stymied because the only way to get here is by car - and car parking space is limited.
Newburgh's 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. Later, saw the growth of thriving industry, fishing and a commercial harbour.
Birdlife is abundant, with ospreys nesting on the River Earn
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The town is the start or end point of the increasingly popular Fife Coastal Path. But it doesn't serve walkers well for lack of facilities. It is worse at weekends, where buses are few and taxis rare! The one public convenience the town did have was demolished by the council!
Unless there is a significant uplift in bus services, visitors will continue to use the car. Realistically, the town can only realise the potential of green tourism by having a train station. To be in line with the the Government's strategy for carbon free transport by 2045, this surely should be a no-brainer.
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Newburgh wants to contribute to the Scottish economy. Developing tourism is one sure way of doing this.
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The annual parade of Newburgh Caledonian Lodge of Oddfellows
Newburgh's world-famous 'wonky' Christmas lights
Lindores Distillery
Newburgh the place
Newburgh sits on the banks of the River Tay in beautiful North East Fife. Despite being just 40 odd miles north of Edinburgh and visible from both Perth and Dundee yet it can feel remote. It is birthplace of Scottish whisky and was once known as the fruit town of Scotland...​​​​​
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