Station code KKN 2011/12 38,484 | Grid reference NT104671 2012/13 46,292 Number of platforms 2 | |
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Similar Livingston South railway st, Wester Hailes railway st, Kingsknowe railway station, Slateford railway station, Curriehill railway station | ||
Kirknewton railway station is a railway station serving Kirknewton in West Lothian, Scotland, Opened as Kirknewton in February 1848, the station was renamed Midcalder and Kirknewton after two months, before becoming Midcalder in 1855. The full circle was finally completed 127 years later in May 1982 when the name reverted to Kirknewton. This was to distinguish it from Kirknewton station near Mindrum on the NER Cornhill Branch.
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The station lies on the Edinburgh branch of the West Coast Main Line, although it is not served by main line express services - it is served by commuter services on the Shotts Line from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts. It is managed by Abellio ScotRail.
As there is no footbridge on the station (the footbridge was removed prior to electrification), passengers wishing to cross the line must do so via the level crossing, which is one of the most incorrectly used in Scotland. There are plans to provide a new crossing (subway) which will remove the level crossing.
History
Kirknewton was the terminus of the Slateford–Balerno line. A bay platform can still be seen to the east of the Edinburgh bound platform. The trains ran alongside the Water of Leith for 65 years, the line finally being closed to passengers on 30 October 1943. Goods trains continued to run until the line was officially closed, aided by the closure of the Kinleith Mill in 1966, to all traffic on 4 December 1967.
Services
As of May 2016 the station is served on Mondays to Saturdays by an hourly ScotRail stopping service between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley. There is a limited Sunday service to Edinburgh and Glasgow of just six trains each way. One service on this route originates at Motherwell in the morning, returning there in the evening.
There is a limited service to/from North Berwick each day (except Sundays) and to Ayr via Carstairs, Glasgow Central and Kilwinning. This is operated by a Class 380 EMU.
As this station is on the Edinburgh branch of the West Coast Main Line; a variety of CrossCountry, TransPennine Express, Virgin Trains East Coast and Virgin Trains West Coast trains pass through without stopping.