Media centre

Monday 5 Jan 2026

£7m upgrade boosts Scotland’s rail freight network

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail has delivered £7m worth of rail improvements in North Lanarkshire, strengthening one of the most critical freight corridors in Scotland. 

Mossend is a vital hub for moving goods across the country. It’s home to three major freight depots and last year handled more than 80% of the country’s rail freight, making it a key part of the national supply chain. 

During a planned nine-day closure over the festive period, multiple upgrades were delivered aimed at improving reliability and performance for freight as well as passenger services.  

Key improvements: 

• Replacing over a mile of ageing track 

• Renewing seven critical connections 

• Installing 450 yards of new drainage 
• Upgrading signalling and overhead lines 

Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director at Network Rail, said: “Every freight train can replace up to 120 lorry journeys, making rail a cleaner, greener way to move goods. That means fewer emissions, less congestion on our roads, and support for Scotland’s economy. 

“Across Scotland’s Railway, we’re investing heavily in infrastructure to make rail the first choice for freight as well as passengers. This upgrade at Mossend strengthens a key section of the network that underpins the country’s freight operations. 

“Completing the work during the festive period allowed us to deliver complex improvements safely while minimising disruption. We’d like to thank passengers and customers for their patience while we carried out this essential project.” 

In addition to the £7m infrastructure upgrade, Network Rail invested £250,000 from its Targeted Performance Fund to boost efficiency at Mossend. Trains can now enter and depart the freight depots at 15mph (three times faster than before) allowing them to clear the area more quickly and improve overall performance on this key section of the network.

The rail line reopened as planned on Saturday 3 January after a nine-day closure.  

The project was delivered in collaboration with freight operators including DB Cargo, GB Railfreight, Freightliner, Colas Rail, and Direct Rail Services.