Residents of Thornton in Fife face months of changed journeys from Monday, 19 October, when Main Street closes completely to vehicles for the replacement of its railway bridge. Four regular bus services will bypass the village, a free shuttle will connect passengers with alternative routes, and the road is not expected to reopen fully until July 2027.
The closure marks the next stage of Network Rail’s reconstruction programme, which will see the existing bridge demolished and replaced to accommodate overhead electrical equipment for new battery-electric trains.
Although preparatory work began in June, Monday’s closure will remove the remaining vehicle access across the bridge. The road is scheduled to remain completely closed until 31 March 2027, when one lane is expected to reopen under traffic-light control.
Full reopening is currently scheduled for 9 July 2027, subject to the progress of construction and the reinstatement of utilities.
Four Bus Services Will Bypass Thornton
Fife Council and Network Rail have arranged replacement transport for passengers who normally rely on bus services passing through the village.
Services 37, 37A, 39 and 39A will follow diversionary routes that do not serve Thornton directly. Instead, a free shuttle bus will connect the village, including the railway station turning circle, with an interchange at Bankhead.
The shuttle is scheduled to operate up to every 20 minutes. On weekdays, the published service runs from 5.45am until 12.45am the following morning. Saturday services begin at 6.15am and Sunday services at 7.30am, with the same overnight finishing time.
At Bankhead, passengers can transfer to regular services towards Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and other destinations.
Special arrangements have also been made for eligible South Thornton residents who cannot reach the shuttle at Thornton railway station. A pre-booked taxi service will provide connections to designated transport points, including Bankhead and, where permitted, Glenrothes Bus Station and Victoria Hospital.
School transport arrangements have been revised separately, with specific collection points and times published for pupils travelling to St Andrews High School and Auchmuty High School.
For drivers, the signed diversion will use the A92, taking vehicles around the closed Main Street crossing.
The Original Closure Plans Were Changed Following Local Concerns
The current timetable follows objections to an earlier construction proposal that would have kept the bridge completely closed for considerably longer.
Network Rail originally proposed a programme lasting approximately 14 months. Following discussions with residents, elected representatives and Fife Council, the arrangements were revised to allow traffic to continue using one lane during the preliminary construction period.
Work began on 20 June, with temporary traffic lights controlling vehicles while engineers prepared the site and utility companies began diverting services away from the existing bridge.
The revised programme delayed the full road closure until October and reduced the period without vehicle access to approximately five and a half months.
John Mitchell, Fife Council’s Head of Roads and Transportation Services, acknowledged the disruption in the council’s October update, saying the authority had worked with Network Rail and transport operators to minimise the effect on local residents.
The council identified maintaining pedestrian access, school transport, disabled access and reducing disruption to businesses among its priorities during the negotiations.
Bridge Demolition Is Scheduled for 24–28 October
The existing bridge must be replaced because it does not provide the clearance required for overhead electrical wires above the railway.
The principal demolition and installation work is scheduled during a railway closure from 24 to 28 October, when engineers will have access to the tracks beneath Main Street.
However, installing the replacement structure will not complete the road project.
Utility services must be reinstated, the new road surface completed and the remaining construction work finished before normal traffic can return.
Network Rail intends to provide one lane of vehicle access from 31 March, controlled by temporary traffic lights, while work continues towards the scheduled July completion.
A temporary pedestrian bridge forms part of the arrangements intended to preserve access across the railway during the road closure.
Part of a £311.5 Million Railway Modernisation
The bridge replacement forms part of the wider £311.5 million Fife railway electrification programme, which includes alterations to other bridges, track and signalling infrastructure.
The project is intended to prepare the railway for battery-electric trains capable of operating using overhead electrical power and onboard batteries over sections without continuous electrification.
For Thornton, however, the immediate consequences are considerably more local. Residents face months of road diversions, altered bus services and additional arrangements for reaching schools, employment and medical appointments.
The village’s first major change arrives on Monday, when Main Street closes completely. The bridge itself is scheduled for demolition later in October, but normal road access is not expected to return until July 2027.
Residents and passengers can consult the latest diversion maps, shuttle timetables and school transport information on Network Rail’s dedicated Thornton project page.
Sources
Phase Two of Thornton Rail Electrification Work Begins — Fife Council, 7 October 2026.
Thornton Main Street Bridge Reconstruction: Programme, Diversions and Public Transport Arrangements — Network Rail, 2026.
Work on Thornton Bridge to Begin on 20 June — Fife Council, June 2026.
This Weekend: Fife Rail Closures Begin for Electrification Upgrades — Network Rail, 8 October 2026.
