Millerhill Depot


(Millerhill Marshalling Yard)

Millerhill Freight Depot
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

Millerhill Freight Depot

The Millerhill Railway Depot (previously referred to as the Millerhill Marshalling Yard) is located a quarter-mile (0.5 km) north of the settlement of Millerhill in Midlothian, just within the northern boundary of that Council Area, and 4 miles (6.5 km) east southeast of the centre of Edinburgh. This is a significant depot and also a railway junction, providing access to the Borders Railway and the Edinburgh Southern Suburban Railway. Opened in 1962, adjacent to Monktonhall Colliery, the marshalling yards primarily serviced coal trains associated with the Midlothian Coalfield and re-established the movement of freight across the Waverley Line to Carlisle. This use was short-lived as the Waverley Line closed in 1969, a victim of the Beeching cuts. Millerhill Freight Depot continued to marshal coal wagons, routing these onto the East Coast Main Line until the closure of first Bilston Glen and then Monktonhall Colliery (in 1989 and 1997 respectively). The depot now provides layover, maintenance and servicing for general freight trains. A new Electric Train Depot is due to open here in 2017, providing cleaning and servicing of rolling stock used on the Edinburgh-Glasgow route. In 2000, proposals were announced for a rejuvenated Waverley Line being rebuilt from Millerhill to Galashiels, and the line opened for passenger service in 2015. There is no longer demand for freight, although this may change if the line to Carlisle is re-opened in the future.


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