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Thursday 8 Jun 2023

Community invited to drop-in events for Barrhead electrification work

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Residents will be able to find out more about the work directly from the project team.

Network Rail is inviting residents to attend two drop-in events to find out more about work taking place to prepare the Barrhead to Glasgow line for electrification.

The drop-ins will take place on Tuesday 20 June and Thursday 22 June from 4.30pm to 7.30pm at Cleeves Primary School, 271 Househillmuir Road, G53 6NL.

Members of the public will be able to speak with the Network Rail project team, who can answer any questions they may have on the project,

Towards the end of this month, engineers will be working around-the-clock to deliver platform and ducting works at Kennishead, Priesthill & Darnley, Nitshill and Barrhead stations.

New overhead power cables - needed to introduce electric services on the route – will be installed.

Activity during the six weeks also includes the removal of the existing footbridge at Nitshill, as it doesn’t provide the required clearance height for the new overhead equipment.

A new, longer ramp, which introduces step-free access to Platform 2 will replace the bridge. This will make it easier for people with impaired mobility or those travelling with luggage, children or cycles to access the platform.

The work, which is part of a Scottish Government investment to decarbonise Scotland’s railway passenger services, will take place from Saturday 24 June until normal train services resume on Friday 4 August. This means that bus replacement services will operate between Kilmarnock and Glasgow during this period.

Paul Reilly, Network Rail’s senior programme manager, said: “Everyone is welcome to come along to our drop-in events. We’re looking forward to answering any questions and explaining the works, as well as the wider benefits they will bring when the project completes.

“By working continuously for six-weeks, this allows our engineers to complete the overhead wire installation and carry out complex civil engineering at key stations between Barrhead and Kennishead. 

“Removing the old footbridge at Nitshill and replacing this with a new ramp to Platform 2 makes the station much more accessible for our passengers. Extending the length of Platform 3 at Barrhead station will mean it’s able to accommodate four carriage trains.

“We appreciate the inconvenience work on this scale can cause and I would like to thank the community for their continued patience as we deliver this vital investment that will help create an even greener railway.”

Engineers will be carrying out track and signalling upgrades on part of the East Ayrshire section of the route and working to improve the stability of embankments in the area during the six week closure.

Over the six-weeks, in addition to a replacement bus service operating between Glasgow and Kilmarnock, there will also be reduced services to/from Glasgow to Crossmyloof and Pollokshaws West stations. Trains between Carlisle, Dumfries, and Glasgow will terminate at Kilmarnock for a connecting replacement bus service.

Customers are being advised to check before you travel at www.scotrail.co.uk/glasgow-kilmarnockclosure or via www.nationalrail.co.uk

If you have any questions about this work, you can contact Network Rail’s 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.  For the latest information and progress updates follow on Twitter @NetworkRailScot.