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Location notes
Cupar (pronounced Cooper), is the second largest town in North Fife, and is located on the Scottish East Coast Main Line. The town is located right in the middle of agricultural country, main employers including Kettle Produce and Quaker Oats. The town is also the home to Howe of Fife Rugby Union club.
Railway type and traffic
Stopping services are provided by Scotrail with a small number in each direction by Cross Country. Scotrail services are 170 or 158 with 170 predominating. A small number of Virgin East Coast services pass through, some at times when lighting is good. Caledonian sleepers early and late, the Down working can be photographed in mid summer. In the summer months the Royal Scotsman 'tourist' train passes through; southbound on Friday mornings.
Freight is all but non existent with only an occasional empty Aberdeen to Oxwellmains cement tanks evening working.
Freight is all but non existent with only an occasional empty Aberdeen to Oxwellmains cement tanks evening working.
Environment
Cupar is a small compact town, and is fairly safe during the day, as most young people head out to Dundee. At night, it is best to be cautious.
Road directions
Cupar is well signposted on the A92, both north and south, whilst from the M90 coming from Perth, take the exit for Newburgh, and follow the road to Cupar from there. The station is well signposted once in the town. If you are heading from Dundee on the A92, do be aware that the signposted road for Cupar that you come to first is quite twisty, and is also served by Double decker buses! An alternative is to head to the Melville lodges roundabout, further south, and head for Cupar from there.
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Cupar Station map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Cupar Station map co-ordinates
Parking
The station car park is rarely busy, and costs £1 to park your car there all day. Buy your ticket from the station ticket office.
There is also free parking available in the Fluthers Car Park around 5 minutes walk from the station
There is also free parking available in the Fluthers Car Park around 5 minutes walk from the station
Public transport
The station is served by First Scotrail trains and the occasional Virgin Trains service.
The only bus operator serving the town is Stagecoach Fife and the routes include the X24 from Glasgow.
IMPORTANT: Not all Stagecoach In Fife services call at the Railway Station, but instead call in at the Crossgate (Cupar town centre). The town centre is a short walk away from the station. Ask the driver when boarding the bus where it stops, or see the timetables on the Stagecoach in Fife website, or call Stagecoach in Fife on 01334 474238. or 01592 610686.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
The only bus operator serving the town is Stagecoach Fife and the routes include the X24 from Glasgow.
IMPORTANT: Not all Stagecoach In Fife services call at the Railway Station, but instead call in at the Crossgate (Cupar town centre). The town centre is a short walk away from the station. Ask the driver when boarding the bus where it stops, or see the timetables on the Stagecoach in Fife website, or call Stagecoach in Fife on 01334 474238. or 01592 610686.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Cupar town centre is little more than 5 minutes walk away, where there are various shops, banks, and cafés. For a cafe, Fisher and Donaldson, on the Crossgate, is recommended.
The nearby Corn exchange plays host to a model railway show every year, usually mid to late September.
The nearby Corn exchange plays host to a model railway show every year, usually mid to late September.
Accommodation
A few Bed and Breakfasts are available in Cupar. However, there is plenty of accommodation throughout Fife. Given the fact that St. Andrews is only 15 minutes away, you may be able to get accommodation there. If you do choose this option, be aware that it can be pricey, especially when there are golf events on in St. Andrews.
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.
Cupar Station
Streetmap links
Cupar Station general view map
Cupar Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Cupar Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Cupar Station
Googly map
Cupar Station general view map
Cupar Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Cupar Station
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The main road into Cupar from the south crosses the railway at the station, and as a result, there is a two arched bridge. This restricts views of the opposite track looking south from either platform. Looking north, there is a sharp bend, again causing restrictions.
The platforms are long enough for you to be clear of waiting passengers.
The platforms are long enough for you to be clear of waiting passengers.
General views - All photographs © Robert Clarke unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking south
Fig 4 - Looking north - Image © Alistair Fyffe
From the down platform end - depending on the time of day/height of sun this shot can be improved by standing at or near the top of the staircase leading up to the road bridge. The fact that there used to be a track (really just an 'internal' loop) between the up and down lines helps to widen the angle. Sun in right place late afternoon and early evening.
Fig 4 - Looking south - Image © Alistair Fyffe
Taken from the road overbridge which forms the southern boundary of the station. Sun is in right place 'earlish' morning.
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.
