Haddington Line
Encyclopedia
The Haddington Line was a 4.8 miles (7.7 km) long railway line which branched from the East Coast Main Line
at Longniddry
and terminated at Haddington
. This line was operative from 1846 until 1968.
. It was built to serve the town of Haddington
. Passengers boarded the train at Haddington station ( 55.9562°N 2.7920°W) and alighted at Longniddry
( 55.9763°N 2.8884°W) to board trains to Edinburgh. The branch carried passengers until December 1949, and was used by freight until March 1968. The railway sleepers and rails were lifted and the land occupied by the branch line purchased by East Lothian Council in 1978. The old route of the branch line is at present used by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. A section of the route inside the town between Gateside Road and Alderston Road is paved and used as a footpath.
is the county town of East Lothian
, the seat of East Lothian Council, and the county's sheriff court. In the early 19th century Edinburgh's railway lines began to expand under various private rail companies. The East Coast Main Line
linking Edinburgh
and London
, via Newcastle-upon-Tyne and York
, was constructed in stages, and (because of the town's importance) was originally intended to pass through Haddington itself. The northern section of this route was being constructed by the North British Rail Company
, who opted to build their line instead via Drem
, to the north of Haddington. This was because the railway company estimated that the additional cost of building the main line to London
through Haddington would have cost £116,000, at a time when the rail company’s entire budget was only £80,000. For compensation to the town, the rail company therefore agreed to provide a branch line to Haddington. The line was built with embankments, sidings, and bridges to allow for a double track; though curiously only a single track was eventually laid. The line was closed after a century of use at a period when cuts were being made to lesser-used railway lines all over Britain. Remaining evidence of the railway line includes the original station building, Haddington station's platform, the station embankments on West Road / Somnerfield Court, and a series of stone bridges between Longniddry and Haddington. At least part of the old station platform at Coatyburn Sidings also remains. The most obvious remains of the branch is the physically cleared and levelled ground on which the railway line was constructed.
at peak hours, as well as at Edinburgh Waverley station, where the old east-bound platforms are now (with the exception of North Berwick's platform) occupied by a modern building within the Victorian station. One possible way of averting these problems would be for carriages from Haddington to join trains from North Berwick (at Longniddry) - made possible by North Berwick having electrically powered carriages. It remains to be seen whether the campaign by RAGES will win the support of Transport Scotland
or the Scottish Government.
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
at Longniddry
Longniddry railway station
Longniddry railway station is located at the southeast corner of the village of Longniddry, East Lothian, Scotland. The station is on the East Coast Main Line 21 km east of Edinburgh Waverley, and is served by stopping passenger trains on the North Berwick Line.-History:The main line between...
and terminated at Haddington
Haddington, East Lothian
The Royal Burgh of Haddington is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the main administrative, cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian, which was known officially as Haddingtonshire before 1921. It lies about east of Edinburgh. The name Haddington is Anglo-Saxon, dating from the 6th...
. This line was operative from 1846 until 1968.
Brief Information
The Haddington Line was opened on Monday, 22 June 1846, by the North British RailwayNorth British Railway
The North British Railway was a Scottish railway company that was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923.-History:...
. It was built to serve the town of Haddington
Haddington, East Lothian
The Royal Burgh of Haddington is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the main administrative, cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian, which was known officially as Haddingtonshire before 1921. It lies about east of Edinburgh. The name Haddington is Anglo-Saxon, dating from the 6th...
. Passengers boarded the train at Haddington station ( 55.9562°N 2.7920°W) and alighted at Longniddry
Longniddry railway station
Longniddry railway station is located at the southeast corner of the village of Longniddry, East Lothian, Scotland. The station is on the East Coast Main Line 21 km east of Edinburgh Waverley, and is served by stopping passenger trains on the North Berwick Line.-History:The main line between...
( 55.9763°N 2.8884°W) to board trains to Edinburgh. The branch carried passengers until December 1949, and was used by freight until March 1968. The railway sleepers and rails were lifted and the land occupied by the branch line purchased by East Lothian Council in 1978. The old route of the branch line is at present used by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. A section of the route inside the town between Gateside Road and Alderston Road is paved and used as a footpath.
Historical background
HaddingtonHaddington, East Lothian
The Royal Burgh of Haddington is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the main administrative, cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian, which was known officially as Haddingtonshire before 1921. It lies about east of Edinburgh. The name Haddington is Anglo-Saxon, dating from the 6th...
is the county town of East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, the seat of East Lothian Council, and the county's sheriff court. In the early 19th century Edinburgh's railway lines began to expand under various private rail companies. The East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
linking Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, via Newcastle-upon-Tyne and York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, was constructed in stages, and (because of the town's importance) was originally intended to pass through Haddington itself. The northern section of this route was being constructed by the North British Rail Company
North British Railway
The North British Railway was a Scottish railway company that was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923.-History:...
, who opted to build their line instead via Drem
Drem
Drem is a small village in East Lothian, Scotland. It is approximately 20 miles east of Edinburgh and is close to Haddington , North Berwick , Dirleton and Gullane ....
, to the north of Haddington. This was because the railway company estimated that the additional cost of building the main line to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
through Haddington would have cost £116,000, at a time when the rail company’s entire budget was only £80,000. For compensation to the town, the rail company therefore agreed to provide a branch line to Haddington. The line was built with embankments, sidings, and bridges to allow for a double track; though curiously only a single track was eventually laid. The line was closed after a century of use at a period when cuts were being made to lesser-used railway lines all over Britain. Remaining evidence of the railway line includes the original station building, Haddington station's platform, the station embankments on West Road / Somnerfield Court, and a series of stone bridges between Longniddry and Haddington. At least part of the old station platform at Coatyburn Sidings also remains. The most obvious remains of the branch is the physically cleared and levelled ground on which the railway line was constructed.
Future scope
There is a campaign to reopen Haddington’s railway service led by the group RAGES (Rail Action Group East of Scotland). Most of the 4.8 mile stretch of the Haddington Line is unoccupied; however at the eastern terminus in Haddington there are industrial units occupying the station's old location. This means that either the industrial units must be moved or a new location for the branch's terminus be found. There are additional problems regarding where the A1 dual-carriageway crosses over the old branch line; for here the branch line is obliterated by a modern road. A further problem for reopening the line lies with congestion on the East Coast Main LineEast Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
at peak hours, as well as at Edinburgh Waverley station, where the old east-bound platforms are now (with the exception of North Berwick's platform) occupied by a modern building within the Victorian station. One possible way of averting these problems would be for carriages from Haddington to join trains from North Berwick (at Longniddry) - made possible by North Berwick having electrically powered carriages. It remains to be seen whether the campaign by RAGES will win the support of Transport Scotland
Transport Scotland
Transport Scotland was created on 1 January 2006 as the national transport agency of Scotland. It is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government's Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department and accountable to Scottish Ministers...
or the Scottish Government.