Fife photography competition launches with just 75 days until Rail Link returns

With just 75 days to go until the Levenmouth Rail Link opens on June 2, Scotland’s Railway is supporting a Fife-based photography competition for all to enter.

Working with local photographer Jim Hamilton, the lens behind the Levenmouth Building A Railway Facebook page, the competition is looking for images which capture the unique beauty of Fife with the winning photographs set to be displayed in and around Leven.

The competition will be open for entries from Friday March 22 until Friday May 10, giving seven weeks for photos to be submitted.

The 10 best entries will be short listed, and one winner and two runners up selected by judges. The competition winner and runners up will be announced the week commencing 13 May. Each of the 10 will receive a special framed poster edition of their photography.

The top three will also receive a commemorative certificate and will be able to nominate a local charity of choice to receive a prize to the value of £500 for the winner and £250 for the runners-up.

The Scottish Government-funded £116m rail link will see a new six-mile double-tracked line with two stations in Leven and Cameron Bridge reconnect local people to the railway after a gap of 55 years.

Joe Mulvenna, Network Rail’s project manager for the Levenmouth Rail Link project said: “The new railway is for everyone in the community to use and enjoy and as we move closer to the opening, we want to engage with as wide a selection of people as possible to join in celebrating the return of passenger trains to Leven.

“The photography competition is just one way we are celebrating the return of the railway, but it also offers a fantastic platform for the local community to showcase some of the best of Fife and show the rest of Scotland why they should come to see it for themselves – ideally by train.

“We look forward to seeing all of the entries and expect to see the uniqueness of Fife being captured and displayed.”

Jim Hamilton, Levenmouth Building A Railway, said: “I am delighted that Network Rail has come on board to support a community photography competition to help celebrate the completion of the Rail Link project.

“I have hugely enjoyed following and photographing the project as it evolved and have captured all of this on the Levenmouth Building A Railway page as a record of the railway’s return to Leven.

“It is fitting that a photography competition is part of the build-up to the reopening of the line and we hope that it helps celebrate the railway but also encourages the local community to refocus on the positives that this area has to offer.”

Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid-Fife and Glenrothes, said: “With just 75 days to go, I am delighted to lend my support to Network Rail's photography competition. The competition is a really important opportunity for the local community to take part in documenting the return of Leven and Cameron Bridge to Scotland's railway network.

"I look forward to seeing the fantastic entries over the coming months and would encourage my constituents to submit their photographs and be part of documenting the historic return of Leven's Railway".

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said: “This Scottish Government investment of over £116m in the Levenmouth Rail Link will open up real opportunities for the local community and visitors alike. By reconnecting this part of Fife to the wider Scotland’s Railway, we can encourage development of the local tourism market.

“This photography competition is a real chance for those who know and love the area best to showcase all it has to offer, and I look forward to seeing the entries.  It is great to know that the railway will make it possible to visit the local beauty spots captured using greener, public transport options.”

Entrants must provide both a physical and digital copy of their photo. The physical print should be A4 in size, the digital copy in JPG or TIFF format. These can be hand delivered or sent via post to:

Colliers Coffee Roasters

Fife Photographic Poster Competition

2 Oswald Place

Bridge Street

Leven KY8 4NW

Fife

For those who have any questions about the competition or would like a copy of the Terms and Conditions, there is a dedicated Facebook Group, just search: Fife Photographic Poster Competition or you can email fife.poster.competition@gmail.com 

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office - Nick King
Media relations manager (Scotland)
0141 555 4108 / 07515 617073
nick.king3@networkrail.co.uk

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