Kirknewton railway station is a railway station serving the village of 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 on the NER Cornhill Branch.
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 to via . It is managed by 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. The level crossing is automatic and approach controlled which means trains which call at the station towards Glasgow have to stop so the driver can turn on the level crossing, This is done to allow traffic to cross when the train is stopped in the station.
History
Kirknewton station opened on 15 February 1848 on the Caledonian Railway's Edinburgh and Carstairs line. The station was located near Ravelrig Junction, where the Caledonian Railway's Balerno Branch connected with the main line. Opened in 1874, the branch ran from Ravelrig Junction through Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green and Colinton to Slateford. Services from Edinburgh could operate through the branch to Balerno and then continue via Ravelrig Junction towards Midcalder, with the branch also serving local mills and other industries along the Water of Leith. Passenger services on the Balerno Branch were withdrawn on 30 October 1943, although goods traffic continued on the line. The western section between Ravelrig Junction and Balerno Goods closed in 1963, while the remaining section was closed to all traffic on 4 December 1967 following the closure of Kinleith Mill in 1966.
Services
The station is served on Mondays to Saturdays by an hourly ScotRail stopping service between and . There is a limited Sunday service to Edinburgh and Glasgow of just six trains each way. One service on this route originates at in the morning, returning there in the evening.
As this station is on the Edinburgh branch of the West Coast Main Line; a variety of Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, London North Eastern Railway and TransPennine Express trains pass through without stopping.
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Sources
External links Kirknewton Station video with narration