Date: 23/04/2007

Stretches of disused train track have been earmarked for sale in a move which transport groups fear will harm the future development of the city^s rail network.
A stretch of disused railway land at Abbeyhill and a former brewery railway siding at Haymarket station have been identified by the property arm of the now defunct British Rail as suitable for being sold off.
The track at Abbeyhill is known as the Abbeyhill loop and runs from the east coast main line under London Road and on to the Lochend Butterfly site. It was last used by trains in the mid-1980s.
Patrick Hutton of the Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) said Edinburgh needs to protect key transport assets like the Abbeyhill loop and the Haymarket sidings. The short term gain for developers is nothing compared to the wider public interest in both protecting and improving public transport provision in Edinburgh. With the reopening of the Waverley route and the current campaign to reopen the South Suburban, it is absolutely essential that this route be protected to enhance capacity at the east side of the city. [See entry of 13 April for details of CRAG and related websites-Ed.]

Related images

Street ent​​rance to the trackwork compound on the site of Abbeyhill station. The sign on the left is of historical interest, and there are several like it still up at Waverley. I^m guessing that whoever was responsible for signs got his P45 before he could take any down ...
Location: Abbeyhill
Company: Easter Road Deviation (North British Railway)
24/02/2018 David Panton

All that remains of Abbeyhill Station, seen looking south from London Road on 6 September 2011, with the site now in use as a work compound. Track is still in place, but is largely buried by infill, while the up platform makes a useful storage area. See image [[22469]].
Location: Abbeyhill
Company: Easter Road Deviation (North British Railway)
06/09/2011 Bill Roberton

The Abbeyhill loop and connection between Waverley and the Granton branch left the ECML at Abbeyhill Junction. When the ECML was electrified a decision was made not to electrify the loop and its fate was sealed. Whereas the Granton branch still exists as far as Powderhall the connection is only with the east as Abbeyhill Junction was severed in the early 1990s along with Easter Road Junction at the other end, see image [[17507]]. The trackbed is however intact and indeed there^s still track up there and running through the remains of Abbeyhill station. This view of 29 September shows the line going over the street called Abbeyhill (not at all hilly). The ECML is just off to the left. That lone tenement is unusual, at least for Edinburgh, in having open landings.
Location: Abbeyhill
Company: Easter Road Deviation (North British Railway)
29/09/2010 David Panton

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Tags: x Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway x Edinburgh South Suburban