🧭 Fife Trains Set For Electrical Upgrade

Good morning, Fifers! On Friday, we asked what your favourite chippy in Anstruther was following the announcement of the 2026 Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year shortlist. And, the results were clear with 82.91% voting for The Wee Chippy!

Here’s what’s coming your way today:

• Fife Trains Set for Electrical Upgrade

• Huge New Investment for Rosyth Dockyard

• 56 Events to See This Week

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

— Duncan

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TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM

🛳️ Huge New Investment for Rosyth Dockyard

Scotland’s shipbuilding industry is experiencing a revival that would have seemed almost unbelievable just a few years ago, and Fife is one of the big winners. Babcock’s Rosyth Dockyard is perfectly placed to capitalise, having recently completed a contract to build five Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy, and is in the running for contracts with the Danish and Swedish navies.

The UK government has now announced a £340 million investment to further support the dockyard’s potential. The funding will improve infrastructure, allowing submarine dismantling to continue and creating a contingency dock for the next generation of the UK’s nuclear deterrent during sea trials.

With major defence investments announced across Europe, Rosyth, and other Scottish dockyards, are well positioned to put their expertise and top-class facilities to work, building not just the UK’s, but Europe’s new fleets. Alongside the much-discussed new ferry service connecting Rosyth to France, it’s an exciting time for shipping in Fife!

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LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🚴 Dalgety Bay’s new £370k community pump track has secured a £65,000 boost from the South and West Fife Area Committee, paving the way for an inclusive 280m cycling circuit with floodlighting at the leisure centre.

• 🚧 Fife Council officers have recommended no enforcement action against Forth Ports, following community protests for public access to the breakwater and harbour in Burntisland.

• 🚢 The UK Government will invest £340 million in Rosyth Dockyard, funding infrastructure upgrades to support submarine dismantling and create a contingency dock for HMS Dreadnought during sea trials.

• 🏪 New food shop planned next to historic Leuchars hotel following Glenshire Developments’ submitted proposals to Fife Council for a 400 sq m store on the grounds of the B-listed Ye Olde Hotel, including parking bays.

• 🚗 Fife Council has reported major improvements in road maintenance, with a 33% rise in pothole repairs over 2022/23 and more than 12,000 defects fixed across the Kingdom’s 2,500 km road network.

• 💰 Fife Council is consulting businesses on the potential introduction of a tourist tax under the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, with early engagement sessions running until November and a possible implementation as early as April 2028.

• 🩺 Many Fife GP Practices will be conducting learning sessions on Thursday 18th September (1–6pm), with urgent care provided by Urgent Care Services Fife on 01592 729250. Normal hours resume Friday 19th September.

• 🏡 Developer Headon has submitted plans for 112 one-to-four-bedroom homes as part of phase 3 at the St Andrews West development. Sustainability features include air source heat pumps, solar-optimised design, active travel routes, green spaces, and an underground bin system.

FEATURE OF THE WEEK

Each week, this section shines a spotlight on something standout in Fife, anything from a unique home for sale or a new local business, to an exciting upcoming event or a hidden gem staycation spot. Got something you think other locals should know about? Just hit reply to this email and tell us about it!

🚆 Fife Trains Set For Electrical Upgrade

Fife’s train network has been going through a period of significant investment, including the recent openings of Leven and Cameron Bridge stations as part of the Levenmouth rail link, and the ongoing campaign for a new station in Newburgh. Despite this progress, further modernisation through electrification and new trains has often been promised but repeatedly delayed.

This is set to change. The Scottish Government has confirmed a £342 million investment in Fife and Borders railways to electrify the network and purchase 69 new, more reliable trains to replace the current diesel fleet. Ordering of the new trains will begin this autumn.

About half of the Fife network is expected to be electrified by 2029, with overhead electric wires installed between Kinghorn and Ladybank and Leven and Cardenden. Once completed, the upgrades are expected to significantly improve both reliability and capacity across the network.

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

Below you’ll find what’s on in Fife over the next few days. For a longer outlook, Fife Insider+ members see two weeks of events every Sunday night. Please remember to double-check details with venues before travelling, as events can occasionally be cancelled or rescheduled at short notice, and some will require prebooked tickets.

📅 Tuesday, 9th September

Bike Tour of St. Andrews - Join Stuart’s Bicycle Tours for a fun, relaxed, and engaging guided ride through this iconic town and its stunning surroundings.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 9:30am & 2:30pm | 📍 11 College St, St Andrews | 🎟️ £46+

Houseplant Market - Discover thousands of plants, with over 250 different types, in all shapes & sizes.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10am | 📍 St Andrews Students' Association | 🎟️ Free

Dairsie Needle Felting Workshop - Explore the wonderful art of artisan needle felting.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Dairsie Memorial Hall, Cupar | 🎟️ £45

Cheese and Wine Night - Enjoy a glass of wine of your choice and a chessboard.
📁 Food | 🕢 5pm | 📍 The Old Vic, St Andrews | 🎟️ £15

Paddlenight Splash - Staff will be on hand to assist you with selecting and launching equipment but remember this is not a taught course.
📁 Sport | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Lochore Meadows Country Park | 🎟️ £10.50

Introduction To Astrophotography with Steve McLeish - Dalgety Bay Astronomy Club presents a special Intro astrophotography workshop.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7pm | 📍 The Kabin, Dalgety Bay | 🎟️ £2

Dreel Crafters - All skill levels welcome for knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, embroidery and more.
📁 Art | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £3

Billy Reekie & Friends - Don’t miss out on Billy Reekie’s first home town gig.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Sold Out

The Rocky Horror Show - Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show comes to Dunfermline.
📁 Stage | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £23.10+

📅 Wednesday, 10th September

Outdoor Iyengar Yoga - Join Certified Iyengar Yoga teacher Jo Mitchell for an outdoor Yoga class.
📁 Sport | 🕢 9:30am | 📍 Adam Smith Heritage Centre | 🎟️ £10

Houseplant Market - Discover thousands of plants, with over 250 different types, in all shapes & sizes.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10am | 📍 St Andrews Students' Association | 🎟️ Free

Sense & Sensibility - Two sisters pursue romance in this drama from 1995 set in England at the turn of the nineteenth century.
📁 Movie | 🕢 11am | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5+

Herman Melville in his Ancestral Leven - Talk exploring the life of the American author behind the world-famous 1851 novel Moby-Dick.
📁 Talk | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

Kids' Den: Lego Club - Learn skills, meet people, have fun as you construct, create and chill out!
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 3:15pm | 📍 Methil Library | 🎟️ £2

Kids' Den: Lego Club - Learn skills, meet people, have fun as you construct, create and chill out!
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 3:30pm | 📍 Windmill Library, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £2

Relaxed Drawing - Find a place in the galleries and take inspiration from great artworks.
📁 Art | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Wardlaw Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Paddlenight Splash - Staff will be on hand to assist you with selecting and launching equipment but remember this is not a taught course.
📁 Sport | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Lochore Meadows Country Park | 🎟️ £10.50

Highland Cow Experience - Meet our beautiful gang and learn more about their role here at Kinkell!
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Kinkell Byre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £20

André Rieu’s Waltz the Night Away - Step into a night of music, romance, and celebration.
📁 Movie | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £13.50+

The Rocky Horror Show - Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show comes to Dunfermline.
📁 Stage | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £23.10+

📅 Thursday, 11th September

Contemplation Day at Adam Smith Garden - Pause, unwind, and reconnect with nature and your thoughts in this beautiful, historic setting.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10am | 📍 Adam Smith Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

Bookbug - Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

A Complete Unknown - Intimate portrait of a young Bob Dylan.
📁 Movie | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £6.50+

Dreel Crafters - All skill levels welcome for knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, embroidery and more.
📁 Art | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £3

Kids' Den: Lego Club - Learn skills, meet people, have fun as you construct, create and chill out!
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 3:30pm | 📍 Duloch Library | 🎟️ £2

Game ON - Casual gaming club with a huge range of board games.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Paddlenight Coach - Weekly coaching sessions for individuals with some basic experience of paddling.
📁 Sport | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Lochore Meadows Country Park | 🎟️ £16

Paddlenight Splash - Staff will be on hand to assist you with selecting and launching equipment but remember this is not a taught course.
📁 Sport | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Lochore Meadows Country Park | 🎟️ £10.50

28 Between with Jay Johnson - Acoustic duo band.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £16.50

Cheech and Chong's: Up in Smoke - Comedic misadventures of two stoner musicians who are unwittingly involved in a marujana smuggling plot.
📁 Movie | 🕢 7pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £3

Dalgety Players: Disney's High School Musical - Disney Channel’s smash hit movie musical comes to life on your stage!
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:15pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £16+

Good Egg Comedy: Aberdour's Monthly Comedy Night - A selection of Scotland’s best comics stopping by for a rare show in Aberdour!
📁 Comedy | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 The Foresters Arms, Aberdour | 🎟️ £8.83

Dunfermline Dramatic Society: The Ghost Train (Revised) - Six passengers find themselves stranded late at night in the waiting-room of an isolated Cornish railway station.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £12+

The Rocky Horror Show - Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show comes to Dunfermline.
📁 Stage | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £23.10+

Flossie Malavialle - From well established folk songs to jazz standards, from blues numbers to Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel’s classics.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Crail Community Hall | 🎟️ £12

📅 Friday, 12th September

Bike Tour of St. Andrews - Join Stuart’s Bicycle Tours for a fun, relaxed, and engaging guided ride through this iconic town and its stunning surroundings.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 9:30am & 2:30pm | 📍 11 College St, St Andrews | 🎟️ £46+

Adam Smith Heritage Tour - Explore the world of Adam Smith, the Kirkcaldy man, philosopher, economist, and visionary.
📁 Tour | 🕢 1pm | 📍 Adam Smith Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

The Rocky Horror Show - Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show comes to Dunfermline.
📁 Stage | 🕢 5pm & 8.30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £23.10+

An Evening of James Taylor By Vernon James - Happily lose yourself in the dulcet tones and sweet melodies of the finest songs written in the last half a century.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £24.20

Ben Ottewell - Known for his unmistakable voice and talent for blistering and inspired guitar solos.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £22

Definition: This Kinda Feeling - Single launch gig at The Windsor Hotel.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Windsor Hotel, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £7

The Dance Academy Showcase 2025 - Choreography to uplift and stimulate your senses, another 2 hrs of enjoyment and entertainment.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £12+

Sunset Sauna & Sea Swim - Begin with a refreshing sea swim, then step into the warmth of our wood-fired sauna.
📁 Sport | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Largo Castaway Sauna | 🎟️ £25

Fantastic Four: First Steps - Forced to balance their roles as heroes with their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god.
📁 Movie | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5+

Next to Normal - Award-winning musical explores mental health and family with a soaring rock score.
📁 Movie | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10+

Dalgety Players: Disney's High School Musical - Disney Channel’s smash hit movie musical comes to life on your stage!
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:15pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £16+

Dunfermline Dramatic Society: The Ghost Train (Revised) - Six passengers find themselves stranded late at night in the waiting-room of an isolated Cornish railway station.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £12+

T-Bone Duffy and Kim Seymour - Relaxing evening of live music.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

🎉 Multi-Day Festivals & Exhibitions

Fife Seaweed Fest - Explore the wonderful world of seaweed in our packed programme of workshops which include foraging, cooking, tasting and making.
📅 Sat, 6th - Sun, 14th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Fife | 🎟️ Varies

Fife Outdoor Activities Week - A week of outdoor activies put on by local businesses, from paddleboarding to yoga and more.
📅 Sat, 6th - Sun, 14th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Fife | 🎟️ Varies

Doors Open Days - Giving everyone the chance to explore Fife’s rich history, architecture, and cultural heritage.
📅 Fri, 5th - Sun, 21st September| 🕢 Varies | 📍 Fife | 🎟️ Free

📍 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

📍 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

📍 The Lost Words - Featuring original artwork by artist Jackie Morris and spell-poems by writer Robert Macfarlane.
📅 Sat, 28th June - Sun, 26th October | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ 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

📍 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

Fife Insider+ members got these events two weeks early. Upgrade today to get 25% off for your first 3 months and get an extended event outlook every Sunday.

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!