Media centre

Tuesday 22 Sep 2009

AIRDRIE-BATHGATE RAIL LINK PROJECT UPDATE: 22 SEPTEMBER 2009

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Work to reopen the Airdrie-Bathgate line after 50 years of closure, continues apace, with considerable progress taking place over the last few weeks.

Network Rail has been working hard to ensure the smooth running of the £300m*, Transport Scotland funded, project which will ultimately see the creation of a direct link to Edinburgh and the East, and to Glasgow and the West, using double tracked electrified lines.


Below is a snapshot of recent activity:
 

Overview:

·         186,000 man hours have been worked during the last month  

·         Over 700 staff have been working on the construction of the line during the last month

·         Over 40,000 tonnes of new stone was transported to the site during one week. This stone is required for strengthening the embankments of the track for the 15 miles of new section of railway between Drumgelloch and Bathgate

·         To date, the project team has installed 603 concrete foundations, 417 piled foundations 650 masts and 4km of overhead wire as part of the electrification process.

·         Construction activity is currently being undertaken at 15 bridges along the line of the non-operational section of the route between Bathgate and Drumgelloch.

 

West Lothian

·         Weekend trains to and from Bathgate will be replaced by bus services until the 18^th of October to allow for a variety of bridge works, over-head line works and track renewals

·         Work at Bathgate Light Maintenance Depot is progressing well, with the platform track installed and all cross track overhead line electrification gantries erected.

·         Foundations for the new Bathgate Station have been laid and station features beginning to take shape

·         Weekend piling works will begin at Uphall Station next week until the 18th of October to allow for the new widened road bridge under the railway. Piling is the insertion of supporting structures, or ‘piles’ into the ground. Piles are used to support the new bridge.

·         Work has started on the car park at Armadale Station.

·         Work continues with the construction of the new Whitburn Road bridge at Bathgate. Road traffic will continue to utilise the temporary diversion road until February 2010.

·         Major gas pipe diversion work has been taking place at Station road Armadale. This work should be complete by mid October allowing the public road to be reopened to traffic.

·         Community meetings have been held in Blackridge, Armadale and Bathgate.

North Lanarkshire

·         The temporary road on the A89 between Plains and Caldercruix has been constructed and is now in use by the public as work begins on Main Street to remove the existing bridge. Network Rail contractors are constructing a new bridge with a road beneath it to facilitate the rail link

·         Retaining walls have been erected at Hillend Loch as part of the new road access along the lochside. There has also been work on the infill at the loch ahead of the construction of the new cycleway.

·         Major earth moving is taking place along the route to re-shape the ground to the requirements of the new track

·         Major utilities (gas and electricity) diversions at Towers Road have been completed, allowing the old bridge to be demolished in early October

·         Community meetings have been held in Caldercruix, Airdrie and Drumgelloch.

Hugh Wark, senior project manager for Network Rail said:
 

“I recently surveyed the line of route by helicopter and it’s clear that the project is  starting to shape the local landscape.  It is really encouraging to see the results of our ongoing hard work as the railway starts to emerge. 
 

“Members of the project team have also been out in the local communities which will benefit from the rail link, meeting residents and discussing the progress of the construction. It’s great to meet so many people that are looking forward to the re-opening of the railway.

“Once again, we would like to extend our gratitude to the residents of the communities which are affected by works and assure them that the project is making great strides and that we well on our way in reinstating the Airdrie-Bathgate link.”

* At 2006 Q1 prices


For media enquiries, contact Craig Bowman at Network Rail:

T: 0141 555 4108
E: craig.bowman@networkrail.co.uk

 For general project enquiries email: info@airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk