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Friday 11 Apr 2025

140-year-old rail bridges revived in Glasgow city centre

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Historic rail bridges near Glasgow Central Station are standing the test of time with a £1.5 million makeover.  

The Eglinton Street and Salkeld Street structures, both 140 years-old, have gone from deteriorating to dependable after the completion of a six-month refurbishment project by Network Rail.   

The work included 'rivet busting' to remove and replace rivets holding the steel in place, as well as other steelwork repairs. Engineers also completed 'ballast retention' work, which involves securing the stone holding the rails in place to prevent it falling from the structure. 

Once the repairs were complete, both bridges were partially repainted to refresh their appearance.  

Christina Thomson, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “The bridges form part of key routes in and out of Glasgow, including the West Coast Main Line, so it's important we do all we can to ensure their longevity. Not only has the work significantly improved their appearance, but it has extended their lifespan by at least 20 years. 

“Maintaining old rail bridges is crucial because it preserves our heritage, reduces environmental impact, and is often more cost-effective than building new structures. We know well-maintained bridges can continue to serve their purpose safely and efficiently for many more years.” 

Network Rail worked with principal contractor Story to carry out the repairs.  

The project forms part of a wide-ranging bridge modernisation programme designed to protect and improve Scotland’s Railway, with nearly £2 billion being invested to increase reliability and improve performance over the next five years. 

This includes a multi-million programme of bridge improvement works around the city centre area including structures at Cumberland Street, Gorbals Street, Nelson Street, Clyde Viaduct (Glasgow Central), Saltmarket and Bell Street. The work improves the resilience of these vital rail links as well as the appearance of these visible parts of the city infrastructure.