Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link

The Stirling–Alloa–Kincardine rail link was a project to re-open 21 kilometres (13 mi) of railway line between Stirling, Alloa and Kincardine in Scotland. The route opened to rail traffic in March 2008.

Under Scottish Executive funding and to relieve congestion on the Forth Bridge, the line between Stirling and Alloa has been reopened to passenger traffic. Construction work started in 2005, with track laying commencing at the end of September 2006 and ending in March 2007. In addition, the route required new signalling, level crossings and a new Alloa railway station.

Work was finished at the end of March 2008 and the line re-opened to the public on 19 May 2008, preceded by a series of pre-opening charters on 15 May 2008.

The line between Alloa and Kincardine has also been rebuilt to allow coal trains from Hunterston Terminal, for example, to Longannet Power Station to avoid using the Forth Bridge.

The line uses the formation of the former main line Stirling and Dunfermline Railway between Stirling and Alloa, and that of the Kincardine Line between Alloa and Dunfermline along the north shore of the River Forth past Longannet Power Station.

Much of the remaining track was still in place, but in very poor condition, and some sections had been removed, particularly at Kilbagie and near Blackgrange level crossing, so track laying was accomplished by conventional construction machinery such as bulldozers and excavators, rather than the rail-based equipment normally used for routine track replacement. Rail arrived by road in 60 foot lengths, was dragged from the nearest access point to its final position, and was then joined into continuous lengths by a mobile flash butt welding machine. This is a slow process compared to normal track renewal.

In addition to the track, the ballast was also renewed, and beneath that, waterproofing and soil reinforcing membranes were used. A great deal of new drainage was provided. One major bridge, over the A907 at Helensfield, was completely renewed, with one new abutment to allow the road to be widened. Everything else was fully refurbished, and the steelwork of most of the bridges is now painted a distinctive maroon colour.

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