🧭 Huge Expansion of Fife Rail Network Proposed

Good morning, Fifers! We ran two polls on Tuesday, and the results are in! Kirkcaldy and Burntisland came out on top for beach investment, with 30% and 20% of the vote respectively. Meanwhile, support for a Fife Tourist Levy was mixed: 49% in favour, 44% against, and the rest undecided.

Here’s what’s coming your way today:

• Huge Expansion of Fife Rail Network Proposed

• Fife Property Selling Fast

• 59 Events to See This Weekend

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

— Duncan

TODAY’S TOP STORY

🏠 The Fife Properties Selling Fastest

The latest ESPC House Price Report reveals a tale of two markets across Fife, with West Fife continuing to outperform while East Fife cools after months of strong competition.

Between August and October 2025, West Fife & Kinross remained the top regional performer, with homes achieving 103.2% of valuation, despite a slight 0.3% dip marking the first decline after a long growth run. The region also boasted the fastest-selling times, with properties going under offer in just 15 days.

The standout story was Rosyth, which took the crown as the fastest-selling area overall. Properties in the town went under offer in only 10 days, 8 days quicker than last year. Meanwhile, one-bedroom flats in Dunfermline offered standout value at £110,524, representing a 16.7% annual increase, while Dunfermline itself listed the highest number of properties in West Fife despite a year-on-year drop in new listings.

However, East Fife saw a different picture, with homes selling for just 99.4% of valuation at average prices of £286,311. West Fife & Kinross saw a modest 1.1% price increase to £227,524, remaining significantly more affordable than neighbouring East Lothian (£327,682) or Edinburgh (£314,321). [ESPC]

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🏥 Fife GP surgeries will close for Protected Learning Time on Tuesday, November 11th (1-6 pm) for staff training. Urgent care will remain available via 01592 729250.

• 🏭 Engineering firm Altrad Babcock has been fined £900,000 after a 130kg metal coil fell and seriously injured a worker during furnace refurbishment at Fife’s Mossmorran petrochemical plant in 2021.

• 🚧 Overnight closures on the M90 from November 5th to the 7th will allow maintenance of the Queensferry Crossing’s automated barriers, ensuring the diversion system is ready for winter operation. Details here.

• 💛 Fife Council has approved £40,053 for the South and West Fife Warm Welcome small grant scheme. Grants of up to £5,000 will support events from lunch clubs to board games, reducing isolation and bringing communities together.

• 🪨 Stabilisation works at Dysart’s rock face are complete, restoring the coastal path through the harbour tunnel and lifting Shore Road car park restrictions.

• 🚶‍♀️ SEStran is seeking public input to improve transport access to healthcare across south-east Scotland. Residents are invited to share experiences to help shape a fairer travel strategy. Complete the survey here.

• 🏊 Fife Council is exploring building a new swimming pool on part of the current Inverkeithing High School site, though no final decision has been made yet. The existing pool will remain open and continue bookings past the school’s closure next summer while the new facility is developed.

• 👩‍🏫 Fife teachers may take industrial action as the EIS union warns of unsustainable workloads, rising classroom violence, and delayed pay rises, with a statutory ballot running from November to January 2026.

• 🚌 Stagecoach has launched its new South Scotland Operating Company, merging its West and East Scotland operations to improve services across communities in Fife, Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Tayside, Angus, and beyond.

FEATURE OF THE WEEK

🚆 Huge Expansion of Fife Rail Network Proposed

Fife has been seeing somewhat of a boom recently in terms of its railway infrastructure, with two new stations recently opened as part of the Levenmouth line and works scheduled to commence on electrifying the network. However, further expansion remains a popular idea, with the north of Fife in particular being poorly served.

Whilst there are regular calls for a new Newburgh train station, these have always seemed unlikely. However, Green MSP Mark Ruskell has reignited the debate, officially launching an updated Breaking the Circle strategy at Lindores Abbey last week. And the proposals are really quite eye-catching, with four new stations or lines being proposed:

• Newburgh Station - A low-cost modular station on the existing Ladybank-Perth line, which currently runs through without stopping. A recent study suggests it would be revenue positive for ScotRail, and the Scottish Government has committed to considering the proposals.

• Alloa to Dunfermline Line - Would reopen the former freight line (last used for Longannet coal deliveries until 2016) to passenger services, providing rail access to West Fife coastal villages and re-establishing links between Stirling, Alloa and Dunfermline.

• St Andrews Line - Despite welcoming over 7 million visitors annually, St Andrews' nearest station remains at Leuchars, 6 miles away.

• Halbeath Park & Ride Station - Would add a station at the existing Park and Ride, as Leven services now pass through, vastly increasing integrated connectivity across Fife. Considered relatively simple and likely revenue positive for ScotRail.

Of these, Newburgh appears most likely to progress, with low relative costs and strong support. The Alloa-Dunfermline line could potentially be delivered by 2029 as infrastructure remains in place, though both it and St Andrews face significantly higher capital costs and less political support.

Read the full report here.

@THEFIFEINSIDER

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

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.

📅 Friday, 7th November

Artisan Fridays Market - A lively weekly food market offering hot & cold food on Kirkcaldy High Street.
📁 Markets | 🕢 9am | 📍 Kirkcaldy High Street | 🎟️ Free

Wee Wardlaws - Help your little one explore the world around them through museum objects, stories, songs, crafts and things to do and spot.
📁 Children | 🕢 10am | 📍 Wardlaw Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Creative Craft Club For Adults - Come and enjoy a regular Friday morning of creativity.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Letham Village Hall | 🎟️ £13.50

Laaaunch - An interactive adventure of galactic proportions, created especially for babies up to 12 months old.
📁 Children | 🕢 10:30am & 1:30pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £13

Coffee Afternoon & Sketchbook Club - Take some time for yourself to sketch, doodle, chat, or simply enjoy the calm, inspiring atmosphere of the space.
📁 Art | 🕢 2:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

Friday Night Slides - 1/10th scale Electric RWD Drift cars only, and must be running Buzz Break or DS Racing LF4 tyres.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Parkgate Community Centre, Rosyth | 🎟️ £5+

Penthouse Autumn Showcase - Featuring live performances from Toastie, We Are Delta, The Dirty Cooks, The Young Cats and Idle Minds.
📁 Music | 🕢 6:45pm | 📍 The Monarch Bar, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £8

Kirsten Adamson - Alternative folk band.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £15.40

We Cry Wolf - 5 piece rock band.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8

Elvis Tribute Night - The one and only Paul Thorpe returns as Elvis for an electrifying tribute night.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 The Physician, St Andrews | 🎟️ £55

La Bohème by Puccini - Opera sung in English with full orchestra under the musical direction of Derek Clark.
📁 Opera | 🕢 7:15pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £21

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

Murder in Play - When a bumbling theatre troupe’s production goes off the rails – and a body is found midshow – expect sharp wit, chaos, and plenty of twists.
📁 Theatre | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £15+

Pieter Wispelwey & Alasdair Beatson - Programme includes César Franck’s sonata in A, a set of variations by Schubert, and a brooding sonata from the Soviet Union.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Laidlaw Music Centre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £16+

Hairbrush Party Anthems! - Girls and guys get ready to PARTY with one of the most fun shows to hit theatres this year.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £27

Adam Ross & Gillian Fleetwood - Evening of acoustic melodies and soulful vocals.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Castlehill Community Centre | 🎟️ £18

Scotland Made the World - A hilarious night of comedy, storytelling, and Scottish pride.
📁 Comedy | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £15

Krissy Matthews Band - Powerhouse blues, rock and fusion trio.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £24.20

Stuart Bell - Night of fantastic music.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

📅 Saturday, 8th November

Raku & Alternative Firings - Raku firing which will include western-style raku glaze firings, naked raku and horse hair and feather firings.
📁 Art | 🕢 9:30am | 📍 Forgan Arts Centre | 🎟️ £95

Kurinuki Workshop - A Japanese pottery technique where solid pieces of clay are shaped and hollowed out by carving.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Forgan Arts Centre | 🎟️ £58

November Market Weekend - An array of Scottish food and drink traders, live music and street food.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10am | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ Free

Winter Warming Remedies - Learn about herbs and spices to keep you warm this winter, as well as for gift ideas!
📁 Food & Drink | 🕢 10am | 📍 The Wynd, Falkland | 🎟️ £30

Artisan Market - Market showcasing the talents of local artisans, offering a wide variety of crafts, art, and specialty goods.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10am | 📍 St Andrews Town Hall | 🎟️ Free

Friends of Families First Coffee Morning - Families First St Andrews is inviting the community to come together for its annual Coffee Morning.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am | 📍 St Andrews Baptist Church | 🎟️ £1+

Walk ON - Casual and relaxing group promoting the health benefits of walking and socialising.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 11am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Saturday Social by Ahoy Ahoy Social Club & STJÄRNA - Live podcast with Ian Westwater & Martin Hardie, plus music from Fons Scotia.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 12pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

Dunfermline City Media Showcase 2025 - Part TED talk, part careers fair, your opportunity to hear from a range of experts in film, television and creative digital arts.
📁 Talk | 🕢 1pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

End of Season Event - Featuring U-Pull-It 1300 Stock Cars, Superstox Lochgelly Masters, Ministox HRP Disco Trophy & Ninja Kart Scottish Masters.
📁 Sport | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Lochgelly Raceway | 🎟️ £15

Postcards From the Future - Get creative making a postcard from the future which imagines a positive and hopeful climate future.
📁 Art | 🕢 2pm | 📍 St Andrews Botanic Garden | 🎟️ Free

La Bohème by Puccini - Opera sung in English with full orchestra under the musical direction of Derek Clark.
📁 Opera | 🕢 2:15pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £21

Murder in Play - When a bumbling theatre troupe’s production goes off the rails – and a body is found midshow – expect sharp wit, chaos, and plenty of twists.
📁 Theatre | 🕢 2:30pm & 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £15+

Focus - The '70s most successful and appreciated of all the Dutch pop-rock exports.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £41.80

Kickin' it Country - Expect to hear our talented DJ's dropping all your favourite country anthems from artists Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and more!
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Styx, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £10

An Evening with Graeme Souness - Scotland and Rangers legend Graeme Souness will lift the lid on an extraordinary career.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £44.04

Letham Nights: The Henry Girls - Three sisters from Donegal, three-part harmonies to die for!
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Letham Village Hall | 🎟️ £19.67

Enjoy The Silence UK - Depeche Mode tribute band.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £18

The Magic Of Motown 2025 - Get ready for all the hits, glittering costumes, dazzling dance routines and outstanding musicianship.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £32.50

Queer Chronicles 3: Essa Flett Book Launch - Reading of Essa's debut Queer Fantasy novel No Such Thing As Kelpies.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 BArty's, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £7.59

Derby Day - Addresses the damage caused by sexual abuse and the consequences of unbroken cycles of violence in communities throughout Scotland.
📁 Theatre | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Leslie Town Hall | 🎟️ £13.01

Music Through the Decades - Night of live music in support of Fernlea House.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Railway Tavern,  Cardenden | 🎟️ £5

Inverkeithing Community Big Band - Evening with The Inverkeithing Community Big Band led by Kevin Ferris, featuring vocalists Lesley Gudgeon and Tom Marshall.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Simpson Institute, Upper Largo | 🎟️ £15

10 Year Celebration Showcase - Featuring captivating performances in Lyrical, Acro, Ballet, and Street Dance.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £10+

Erik Palmberg Quartet - Sweden’s celebrated Erik Palmberg Quartet is set to bring its evocative and cinematic jazz to Kirkcaldy.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 St Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £14

Karen Dunbar - Chewin' The Fat star Karen Dunbar is back with her brand new 2025 Scottish Tour.
📁 Comedy | 🕢 9:30pm | 📍 The Old Kirk, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £27.75

Forgan's St Andrews Ceilidh - Head to Forgan’s and experience one of our unforgettable ceilidhs.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10pm | 📍 Forgans St Andrews | 🎟️ £5

📅 Sunday, 9th November

November Market Weekend - An array of Scottish food and drink traders, live music and street food.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10am | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ Free

Culross Community Market - Enjoy a fantastic day of local shopping, delicious food, and live music.
📁 Markets | 🕢 12pm | 📍 Culross Green | 🎟️ Free

Write ON - Friendly and no pressure creative writing group for amateur and unpublished writers.
📁 Art | 🕢 1pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Focus - The '70s most successful and appreciated of all the Dutch pop-rock exports.
📁 Music | 🕢 1pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £41.80

Fun For Little Ones: Ms Rachel Tribute Tour - The UK’s Premier Tribute to Global Phenomenon… Ms Rachel!
📁 Children | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £20.80

The Musical Robinson - Come and support Ukrainian youngsters delivering a one-off performance with English translation.
📁 Stage | 🕢 2pm | 📍 The Aurrie, Lower Largo | 🎟️ Donations

Sunday Night Supper Club: The Seahorse Restaurant - Father & Son duo Ben and Mitch Tonks join us from Cornwall for a seafood extravaganza!
📁 Food & Drink | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Kinneuchar Inn, Kilconquhar | 🎟️ £92.80

📅 Monday, 10th November

Big Fish - Travelling salesman, Edward Bloom, whose larger-thanlife experiences and fantastical tales excite everyone.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £11+

🎉 Multi-Day Events & Exhibitions

Steaming Ahead: How the Railways Changed the Fish We Eat - Take the opportunity to look at the impacts of steam railways on the fishing industry.
📅 Fri, 19th September - Mon, 10th November | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Museum Entry

Collecting the Contemporary: Scottish Art at Kirkcaldy Galleries - This display features works by modern and contemporary painters who were inspired by Scotland.
📅 Fri, 31st January - Wed, 31st December | 🕢 10am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Jack Vettriano Exhibition 2025 - Collection of Jack Vettriano prints, including rare and sold-out pieces.
📅 Tue, 4th March - Thu, 15th January 2026 | 🕢 10am | 📍 Affordable Arts, Methil | 🎟️ Free

From These Parts: Scotland, Art and Identity - Special preview evening filled with live music, drinks, and creative activities.
📅 Sat, 18th October - Sun, 15th February 2026 | 🕢 10am | 📍 Wardlaw Museum | 🎟️ 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

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Cheers,

Duncan