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Wednesday 27 Jan 2010

£20m INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS MEAN NEW, LONGER TRAINS FOR AYRSHIRE AND INVERCLYDE PASSENGERS

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail has begun work on a £20m programme of platform extensions at stations across Ayrshire and Inverclyde as the railway prepares for the arrival of new, longer Class 380 electric trains.

The new rolling stock is set to enter service with ScotRail later this year, providing passengers in Ayrshire and Inverclyde with more seats, better accessibility and improved comfort on longer trains.

To allow the introduction of the Scottish Government-funded Class 380s, Network Rail is extending platforms at the following stations: Stevenston, Ardrossan Harbour, Ardrossan Town, Largs, Irvine, Kilwinning, Johnstone, Troon, Prestwick Airport, Fort Matilda, Greenock West, Bishopton and Saltcoats.

The project will also see the installation or enhancement of facilities such as lighting, CCTV and public address systems at these stations and at Ardrossan South Beach, Ayr, Wemyss Bay, Gourock, Prestwick Town, Greenock Central, Paisley Gilmour Street, Paisley St James, Port Glasgow, Cardonald, Hillington East, Hillington West, and Woodhall.

The ScotRail depot and train servicing facility at Townhead in Ayr will also be enhanced as part of the project. Using land within the existing depot footprint, Network Rail’s contractors will construct new platforms, track and overhead power lines to provide for the stabling and cleaning of the new fleet.   

The platform works and station enhancements will be delivered by Jarvis Rail, Babcock Rail and C Spencer. Carillion has been contracted to design and build the new Townhead depot.

The project will be delivered over the first ten moths of this year – without disrupting train services – and will complement the phased introduction of Class 380s from autumn 2010.

Ron McAulay, Network Rail director Scotland, said: “The introduction of the new Class 380s will help to meet ever growing capacity demands on what are key commuter and leisure travel routes.

“This is an investment which will transform the passenger experience on these services and shows our commitment to building a bigger and better railway in Scotland and ensuring the success of this investment in new rolling stock.”

Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Climate Change and Infrastructure, said: “With rail patronage increasing, this vital investment in Class 380 rolling stock will deliver long-term benefits for passengers through improved facilities, more trains and an additional 7,500 seats on the network. 

"In December 2008, Government announced the world’s most ambitious climate change bill. If we are to meet these challenges and achieve our 80% emissions reduction target, we all must encourage more passengers to move from car to rail. By carrying out this platform work, Network Rail is paving the way for our new fleet of rail technology that can help drive change in favour of more sustainable forms of transport."

Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, added:  “This is great news for rail users and we welcome this investment by the Scottish Government which will encourage more people to get out of their cars and on to trains.

“The trains provide more capacity, and improved passenger comfort as well as a number of environmentally friendly features.”