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Location notes
Located a short walk away from the town centre, Kirkcaldy is located on the Scottish East Coast Main Line, running between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, with a spur to Perth.
Railway type and traffic
The station is located on the main Edinburgh to Aberdeen main line. All passenger trains scheduled to be on this line call at the station. These are operated by First Scotrail (the main operator), NXEC, and Virgin. There is also the Caledonian Sleeper train.
Freight is operated by DB Schenker, and is mainly coal trains heading to Longannet. Once the Alloa to Kincardine line reopens in 2006, such traffic may cease.
Freight is operated by DB Schenker, and is mainly coal trains heading to Longannet. Once the Alloa to Kincardine line reopens in 2006, such traffic may cease.
Environment
Although just north of Kirkcaldy town centre, the station is partly on an embankment, and even on the sunniest of days, it can get rather breezy, very quickly! The station itself is covered by CCTV, and there are help points on both platforms.
The station is fully staffed at all times, and so there should be no trouble.
One thing, there is a fierce rivalry between Dunfermline Athletic FC and Raith Rovers FC (the local team). I would advise you not to wear DAFC colours, or for that matter Rangers or Celtic colours either.
The station is fully staffed at all times, and so there should be no trouble.
One thing, there is a fierce rivalry between Dunfermline Athletic FC and Raith Rovers FC (the local team). I would advise you not to wear DAFC colours, or for that matter Rangers or Celtic colours either.
Road directions
From the A92:
Come off at the signs for Kirkcaldy West and Cardenden. There will also be yellow 'Football Traffic' signs, which is the correct exit. At the roundabout, follow the signs for Kirkcaldy town centre. At the next roundabout, take the fourth exit, which has the station signposted. Stay on this road to the end, and the station is in front of you.
Coming from Kinghorn, or the A921, at the second min roundabout, turn left, and follow this road (Pratt Street) all the way, under the railway bridge, to the roundabout. Go straight over the roundabout, at Beveridge Park, and the station is signposted from there.
If Raith Rovers FC are playing at home, Pratt Street will be partially closed. If this is the case, follow this diversion.
Instead of going left at the second mini roundabout, head straight on, along the Esplanade. After about 1 mile or so, you will come to some traffic lights, turn left, onto Nicol Street, and head straight up to the next set of traffic lights. Go straight on, and follow the road to the roundabout, after the railway bridge. This is the Beverige Park roundabout. Take the third exit, and the station is signposted form there.
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Kirkcaldy station map co-ordinates
Come off at the signs for Kirkcaldy West and Cardenden. There will also be yellow 'Football Traffic' signs, which is the correct exit. At the roundabout, follow the signs for Kirkcaldy town centre. At the next roundabout, take the fourth exit, which has the station signposted. Stay on this road to the end, and the station is in front of you.
Coming from Kinghorn, or the A921, at the second min roundabout, turn left, and follow this road (Pratt Street) all the way, under the railway bridge, to the roundabout. Go straight over the roundabout, at Beveridge Park, and the station is signposted from there.
If Raith Rovers FC are playing at home, Pratt Street will be partially closed. If this is the case, follow this diversion.
Instead of going left at the second mini roundabout, head straight on, along the Esplanade. After about 1 mile or so, you will come to some traffic lights, turn left, onto Nicol Street, and head straight up to the next set of traffic lights. Go straight on, and follow the road to the roundabout, after the railway bridge. This is the Beverige Park roundabout. Take the third exit, and the station is signposted form there.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Kirkcaldy station map co-ordinates
Parking
Although there are two station car parks, one on each side, these get busy fairly quickly, during weekdays, especially as students at the nearby college, and people visiting the town centre, use them. At weekends, this is less of a problem.
There may be parking in nearby streets, though as a lot of houses nearby do not have driveways, space may be restricted.
All other car parks are in the town centre, which is a 5-10 minute walk away, and are pay and display.
Do NOT park in the swallow hotel car park, unless you are staying there.
There may be parking in nearby streets, though as a lot of houses nearby do not have driveways, space may be restricted.
All other car parks are in the town centre, which is a 5-10 minute walk away, and are pay and display.
Do NOT park in the swallow hotel car park, unless you are staying there.
Public transport
All trains on this line call at Kirkcaldy. For timetables, visit
GNER, Virgin Trains and FirstScot rail
Stagecoach Fife provide all bus services in the town. The bus station is a 5 minute walk away (max), and some other services call at the bus stops near the southbound side of the station. These stops are about a couple of minutes walk away. Visit Stage coach bus for timetables.
NB services X1, X26, X59, and X60 do NOT call at the railway station, only at the bus station.
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Stagecoach Fife provide all bus services in the town. The bus station is a 5 minute walk away (max), and some other services call at the bus stops near the southbound side of the station. These stops are about a couple of minutes walk away. Visit Stage coach bus for timetables.
NB services X1, X26, X59, and X60 do NOT call at the railway station, only at the bus station.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Toilets are provided on Platform 1, by proceeding up the stairs from the ticket concourse. There is also a British Transport Police office, on this platform. In the ticket hall, there is a branch of WH Smith, though this is closed on Sundays. The town centre is a short walk away, and there are many shops located here, including a branch of Tescos. Numerous chip shops and restaurants are located here as well.
There is also a coffee shop located within the Art Gallery and Museum, which is next to the station. The opening times are 10:00 to 17:00 Mondays to Saturday.
There is also a coffee shop located within the Art Gallery and Museum, which is next to the station. The opening times are 10:00 to 17:00 Mondays to Saturday.
Accommodation
The Swallow hotel is located a short walk away from the station. For all other accommodation, contact tourist information.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Kirkcaldy station
Streetmap links
Kirkcaldy station general view map
Kirkcaldy station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Kirkcaldy station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Kirkcaldy station
Googly map
Kirkcaldy station general view map
Kirkcaldy station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Kirkcaldy station
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The station is a fairly busy station, but the platforms are quite long, to accommodate intercity trains, and quite wide as well. So, you should not get in anyone's way. There is, however, a canopy on the northbound platform, which can create a shadow, and this means that it can be difficult to snap Northbound trains, looking in a northbound direction.
There is also no footbridge at the station. To achieve high up shots, the nearest bridge is on Bennochy road, and is visible from the station. Simply head out of the station, turn left, pass the bus stops, and turn left at the traffic lights.
The view looking southbound is clear for about a mile, so there will be plenty time to get ready for a shot of a northbound train. The line looking northbound is visible for only around 250 metres, but passenger trains will be very slow, and anyway, tannoy announcements, as well as the next train monitors, will tell you when a train is due.
If you are shooting video, a road passes the northbound platform, but there is not much problem with traffic noise. You may get a problem with the wind!
There is also no footbridge at the station. To achieve high up shots, the nearest bridge is on Bennochy road, and is visible from the station. Simply head out of the station, turn left, pass the bus stops, and turn left at the traffic lights.
The view looking southbound is clear for about a mile, so there will be plenty time to get ready for a shot of a northbound train. The line looking northbound is visible for only around 250 metres, but passenger trains will be very slow, and anyway, tannoy announcements, as well as the next train monitors, will tell you when a train is due.
If you are shooting video, a road passes the northbound platform, but there is not much problem with traffic noise. You may get a problem with the wind!
General views - All photographs © Robert Clarke unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Note the ultra wide part of the northbound platform, which narrows behind the photographer
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
