🧭 Fife Train Stations Ranked: Best to Worst

Good morning, Fifers! Last week, we explored the planned Stagecoach bus changes and asked whether you'd be affected. The results were split right down the middle, 50% of you said you'd be directly impacted, highlighting just how significant these changes could be.

Here’s what’s coming your way today:

• Fife’s Best Train Station Revealed

• Sustainable Farm of the Year

• 36 Events to See This Week

Let’s jump in, there’s plenty to talk about!

— Duncan

TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM

🚌 The Best Train Stations in Fife

Reading the Dunfermline Press this morning, we came across some great research done by their team, which investigated train station performance across West and Central Fife. Using data from On Time Trains, they ranked local stations based on performance scores, factoring in service punctuality and cancellations, and the results were quite revealing, with Leven Station coming out on top.

Inspired by their work, we’ve taken it a step further and looked at all train stations across the Kingdom to reveal the best and worst performers in the region. Personally, we’ve always had a fairly good experience using the trains in Fife, they’re part of our weekly routine, so it came as a bit of a surprise to see just how poorly some of our local stations rank compared to the rest of the UK.

Below is the complete ranking of Fife’s stations, based on their rolling 31-day performance score, along with their UK-wide rank out of 2,640 stations:

1. Leven - 91% | 494th

2. Lochgelly - 91% | 535th

3. Cowdenbeath - 89% | 735th

4. Cardenden - 89% | 845th

5. Dunfermline City - 89% | 856th

6. Dunfermline Queen Margaret - 89% | 934th

7. Glenrothes with Thornton - 88% | 1,085th

8. Rosyth - 87% | 1,201st

9. Springfield - 87% | 1,207th

10. Ladybank - 87% | 1,243rd

11. Kirkcaldy - 87% | 1,287th

12. Inverkiething - 87% | 1,337th

13. Aberdour - 87% | 1,382nd

14. North Queensferry - 87% | 1,431st

15. Burntisland - 86% | 1,524th

16. Dalgety Bay - 86% | 1,544th

17. Kinghorn - 86% | 1,553rd

18. Markinch - 86% | 1,579th

19. Cameron Bridge - 83% | 1,956th

20. Leuchars - 84% | 1,964th

21. Cupar - 82% | 2,190th

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LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🚧 St Andrews Harbour Gala is paused as £3m storm repairs continue. The pier reopened after £2m work, but a £500k funding shortfall delays full restoration. Fundraising efforts are ongoing for critical repairs.

• 🏠 Nine new council homes in Kirkcaldy and Markinch have been purchased to ease Fife's housing emergency and provide more affordable, family-sized housing through the Fife Housing Register.

• 🎉 A £3.6m EuroMillions ticket bought in Fife on June 13 remains unclaimed. The lucky winner has until December 10 to come forward before the funds are diverted to support UK National Lottery projects.

• ⚠️ 90 jobs are at risk at Dunfermline’s Greenfold Systems after major customer ADL announced plans to shut its Scottish sites. The move follows wider industry uncertainty, sparking calls for government action.

• 🏛️ Fife Council is tackling a £36.3m budget gap with reforms, digital innovation, and workforce transformation, aiming to protect frontline services, support staff, and build a sustainable, community-focused future.

• 🚮 Fife councillor warns bin lorries may struggle to access 11 streets in his ward under the upcoming September pavement parking ban. Only 2 of these streets are currently proposed for exemption, sparking concerns over waste collection disruptions and parking alternatives.

• 🏥 Cancer treatment delays in NHS Fife spark “crisis” warning from MSP Roz McCall, as new stats show just 64.8% of patients begin treatment within the 62-day target, far below the 95% goal.

• 🌿 Halbeath Nursery in Dunfermline has been awarded a Green Eco Flag for its dedication to sustainability! Children, families, and staff worked together on projects like litter picks, eco gardening, and recycling to earn this prestigious recognition.

• 🔧 Rosyth Dockyard could be set for major investment from Babcock as UK defence spending ramps up. The company, one of the MOD’s top suppliers, plans to boost advanced manufacturing and modular production at the site.

• 🏊‍♂️ Over 8,000 people in Fife are learning to swim each week, thanks to the Learn to Swim Framework, part of a national programme led by Scottish Swimming and supported by Scottish Water.

• ✈️ A former WWII cinema at Crail Airfield in Fife is set for a sensitive revamp to safeguard its future. Plans include internal and external upgrades, a new office space, and a wet weather venue for raceway events, preserving this Category B listed heritage site.

AROUND FIFE

Each week, we highlight positive news stories, hidden gems, and local experiences to explore.

🐄 Sustainable Farm of the Year: Balcaskie Estate

There’s a lot of farmland in Fife, and we always enjoy driving past it, checking out what’s growing or which animals are out grazing. With all this right on our doorstep, we’re always on the lookout for local produce to enjoy, and we can personally vouch for just how good the stuff made here in the Kingdom really is. So, it wasn’t much of a surprise to us when a local farm scooped up a big award this month at the Royal Highland Show.

The Sustainable Farm of the Year award went to none other than Balcaskie Estate, tucked away in the East Neuk. You might already recognise Balcaskie from our event lists, the estate regularly hosts farm walks and runs events at their brilliant Bowhouse venue, which showcases local producers through regular markets and food & drink weekends.

Their approach to farming is all about working with nature. That means raising native breeds like Lincoln Red cattle, Tamworth pigs, and a range of native sheep as part of a low-input, organic system that supports biodiversity and sustainability. A massive congratulations to the whole team at Balcaskie for putting Fife firmly on the sustainable farming map.

If you haven’t made it out to Bowhouse yet, maybe now’s the time to plan your next weekend wander, their next market weekend is just around the corner on 12th July!

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

✨ Featured Event

Want to add an event? Use the button below. Want a Featured Event like above? Drop us a line at [email protected].

🎶 Live Music & Concerts

📍 Victory or Die - Plus support from Deadfire and The Love World Order.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8

📍 The Dirty Cooks - Indie rock band.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £6

📍 The Vintage Explosion - Debut studio album of 10 self-penned modern classics.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £30.50

📍 Open Mic Night - Bring your talents, your friends, and your sense of adventure to a night full of creativity.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 T-Bone Duffy and Kim Seymour - Relaxing evening of live music.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 8:00pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

🎭 Theatre & Stage

📍 The Last Musician of Auschwitz - Told through the words of victims of the camp who played and created music during the terrors of the Holocaust.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10

🎬 Entertainment

📍 Lang Toun Fest 2025 - Culture, art, history, music, food, family-friendly activities, and community projects throughout June.
📅 Fri, 30th May - Sat, 5th July | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Varies

📍 Composted: A Festival of Biodegradable Ideas - Connecting gardeners, scientists, environmentalists, and everyone in the community in celebration of the life in our compost.
📅 Sat, 31st May - Sat, 26th July | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Cambo Country House and Estate | 🎟️ Varies

📍 Women’s Rugby Beginners Bootcamp - Try rugby for free in a fun and friendly environment, learn new skills, improve your fitness and meet new people!
📅 Tue, 1st July | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Howe Of Fife Rugby Football Club | 🎟️ Free

📍 National Theatre Live: A Streetcar Named Desire - As Blanche’s fragile world crumbles, she turns to her sister Stella for solace.
📅 Wed, 2nd July | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Crail Community Hall | 🎟️ £14

📍 The Wild Robot - A robot’s programming is challenged by the natural world when it crash lands on an island rich in wildlife.
📅 Thu, 3rd July | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £8

📍 Bennetts British Superbikes - Three action-packed days of world-class motorcycle racing.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 8:00am | 📍 Knockhill | 🎟️ Varies

📍 Learn Photography @ Fife Zoo - Full day course with Drew Cunningham and Grant Keelan for beginners, amateurs and enthusiasts.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Fife Zoo | 🎟️ £50

📍 St Andrews Heritage Tour - Discover hidden gems, stories, and secrets by exploring St Andrews Castle, Cathedral, and more.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 2:00pm | 📍 St Andrews War Memorial | 🎟️ £10

📍 The Salt Path - A couple walk the 630-mile Salt Path along the English coast after losing their home and facing a terminal illness.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5+

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & Kids

📍 Burntisland Fairground - Rides, stalls, and attractions lining the town’s seafront.
📅 Sat, 31st May - Sun, 24th August | 🕢 1:00pm | 📍 The Links, Burntisland | 🎟️ Varies

📍 Big Kid Circus in Glenrothes - The Big Kid Circus is in town with their brand new show Kingdom Of Kong!
📅 Tue, 1st - Sun, 6th July | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Warout Playing Fields, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £19.99

📍 Bobbin Babies - Songs, rhymes and sensory fun for under 3s and their loved ones.
📅 Tue, 1st July | 🕢 9:30am | 📍 Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum | 🎟️ Free

📍 A Minecraft Movie - Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems.
📅 Tue, 1st July | 🕢 6:00pm | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £3+

📍 Bookbug - Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Wed, 2nd July | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bookbug - Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Wed, 2nd July | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Burntisland Library | 🎟️ Free

📍 Hillview Animal Park: Summer Visits - Come along and meet our friendly animals.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 10:00am & 1:00pm | 📍 Hillview Animal Park | 🎟️ £5

📍 Let's Get Dressed Up Costume Drop In - Selection of our school and family dressing-up box will be available for Museum visitors young and old.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Museum Entry

📍 Lilo & Stitch - Come along and watch the newly released Lilo & Stitch.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 3:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £1+

🥗 Food & Drink

📍 Cheese and Wine Night - Enjoy a glass of wine of your choice and a chessboard.
📅 Tue, 1st July | 🕢 5:00pm | 📍 The Old Vic, St Andrews | 🎟️ £15

🛒 Markets

📍 Balgove Night Market - Stock up on fresh produce from the farm show, butchery, vegetable growers, and more.
📅 Tue, 1st July | 🕢 5:00pm | 📍 Balgove Larder Farm Shop & Café | 🎟️ Free

📍 Artisan Fridays Market - A lively weekly food market offering hot & cold food on Kirkcaldy High Street.
📅 Fri, 4th July | 🕢 9:00am | 📍 Kirkcaldy High Street | 🎟️ Free

🧶 Arts & Crafts

📍 Dreel Crafters - All skill levels welcome for knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, embroidery and more.
📅 Tue, 1st & Thu, 3rd July | 🕢 7pm (Tue) & 2pm (Thu) | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £3

📍 Ian Anthony Thompson: I am Curious Blue - Re-imagining images from Popular Culture to voice social and political comments on the pressures from social media.
📅 Thu, 3rd July | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

🎨 Exhibitions

📍 Deep Sea World Fantasea - This summer, Deep Sea World transforms into a mythical world of magic, mystery, and marine marvels.
📅 Sat, 28th June - Sun, 17th August | 🕢 | 📍 Deep Sea World, North Queensferry | 🎟️ £13.75+

📍 Unearthed - Step back in time to discover how Scotland was formed and explore prehistoric creatures.
📅 Sat, 8th February - Sat, 27th September | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Museum | 🎟️ Free

📍 Jack Vettriano Exhibition 2025 - Collection of Jack Vettriano prints, including rare and sold-out pieces.
📅 Tue, 4th March - Tue, 28th October | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Affordable Arts, Methil | 🎟️ Free

📍 Cupar Museum and Heritage Centre – Explore Cupar’s rich history with locally focused exhibitions.
📅 Wed, 16th April – Fri, 31st October | 🕒 2pm (Wed, Fri & Sun) | 📍 Cupar Railway Station, Cupar | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict - Surprising connections between golf and conflict, including the impact on golfers and their equipment.
📅 Fri, 18th April - Tue, 31st March 2026 | 🕢 9:15am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17.50

📍 Forthlines - Displays of squares made by people living in Fife, of places that they know and love.
📅 Sat, 24th May - Sun, 31st August | 🕢 10:00am (11:00am Sun) | 📍 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Museum Entry

📍 Rewrite the Future - Explore how today's choices can shape a fairer, more sustainable tomorrow.
📅 Sat, 31st May - Sun, 28th September | 🕢 9:45am | 📍 Wardlaw Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

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THANKS FOR READING

Thanks for reading Fife Insider today. If you found something useful, please share it with a friend in Fife.

Cheers,

Duncan

Got an event or news you want to feature? Or perhaps you’d like to promote your business to readers in Fife? Get in touch with us at [email protected] - let’s make it happen!